Who is Nawaf Salam? Diplomat, ICJ president, now leading Lebanon through crisis

Hilal Khashan, a political scientist who worked with Salam at American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera that Salam is a man of integrity. He said Salam believes the Lebanese political system needs reform. According to him, accountability, transparency and responsibility are very important to Salam, as reported by Al Jazeera.

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What is his professional background?

Salam worked as a lawyer and lecturer at several universities before serving as a president. He also served as Lebanon’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York City from 2007 to 2017. After that, in 2018, he became a member of the ICJ, the UN’s top court, where he served for three years.

After years of governmental gridlock in Lebanon, Salam took office with a promise to pull the country out of crisis, outlining a vision centered on fixing broken institutions and reviving the struggling economy.

Challenges he faced

Since assuming office, Salam has navigated significant security hurdles. When a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was reached this month, he expressed his support for the pause in hostilities, stressing the need to reduce tensions amid the broader instability gripping the region.

He has stated that discussion, not conflict—even with Hezbollah—is the way forward for Lebanon, while also pledging to uphold national sovereignty. He has appealed to the international community for support as Lebanon strives for wider regional negotiations.