عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Iraq Extends Lebanon Fuel Deal for One Year

A dusk aerial view of cars driving by the devastated Port of Beirut, in darkness during a power outage. (AFP)
A dusk aerial view of cars driving by the devastated Port of Beirut, in darkness during a power outage. (AFP)
TT
TT

Iraq Extends Lebanon Fuel Deal for One Year

A dusk aerial view of cars driving by the devastated Port of Beirut, in darkness during a power outage. (AFP)
A dusk aerial view of cars driving by the devastated Port of Beirut, in darkness during a power outage. (AFP)

Iraq's government has agreed to continue supplying Lebanon's electricity company with heavy fuel oil for another year, Lebanon's caretaker prime minister said on Thursday, alleviating pressure on Lebanon's struggling power grid.

Najib Mikati said he had made the request to Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who agreed to extend the same terms of the agreement signed last year.

In July 2021, Iraq offered the cash-strapped Lebanese government 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil a year in exchange for services including health care for Iraqi citizens.

The deal was meant to alleviate Lebanon's acute power shortage, which last summer reached crisis levels when the government was unable to subsidize fuel imports.

Lebanon subsequently removed those subsidies and domestic fuel prices skyrocketed. Russia's invasion of Ukraine then further bumped up international prices this year.

With the government unable to provide fuel to public power plants, most homes in the country have been left without state-provided electricity for around 22 hours every day.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Tebboune Elected to Serve Second Term Leading Algeria

Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
TT
TT

Tebboune Elected to Serve Second Term Leading Algeria

Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been named the winner of Algeria's presidential election, granting him another term leading the gas-rich North African nation five years after protests led to the ouster of his predecessor.

In a result that surprised few observers internationally or in Algeria, the country's independent election authority on Sunday announced that Tebboune had won 94% of the vote, far outpacing his challengers Abdelali Hassani Cherif, who won 3% and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, who won 2.1%.

Election officials reported less than six million of the country's 24 million voters had turned out to vote on Saturday, perpetuating the low voter turnout rates that marred Tebboune's first term and raised questions about his popular support.

Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, it's the continent's second most populous after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024 — a year in which more than 50 elections are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world's population.

Throughout the campaign, activists and international organizations, including Amnesty International, railed against the campaign season's repressive atmosphere and the harassment and prosecutions of those involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups. Some denounced this election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo.

But Tebboune and his two challengers each urged political participation and specifically made overtures to the Algerian youth, who make up a majority of the population and disproportionately suffer from poverty and unemployment.