Najib Mikati

Najib Mikati
Name	Najib Mikati
Caption	Mikati in 2022
Office	Prime Minister of Lebanon
Term start	10 September 2021
President	Michel Aoun, Vacant, Najib Mikati (acting)
Term start1	13 June 2011
Term end1	15 February 2014
President1	Michel Suleiman
Predecessor1	Saad Hariri
Successor1	Tammam Salam
Term start2	19 April 2005
Term end2	19 July 2005
President2	Émile Lahoud
Predecessor2	Omar Karami
Successor2	Fouad Siniora
Office3	Minister of Public Works and Transport
Term start3	2000
Term end3	2003
Primeminister3	Rafic Hariri
Predecessor3	Issam Naaman
Successor3	Trabolsi
Birth date	24 November 1955
Birth place	Tripoli, Lebanon
Spouse	May Mikati
Alma mater	American University of Beirut
Party	Azm Movement
Religion	Sunni Islam

Najib Mikati is a prominent Lebanese billionaire businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon on three separate occasions. A member of the Sunni community from Tripoli, his political career has been deeply intertwined with his vast business empire, primarily through the Investcom holding company and M1 Group. His tenures as premier, particularly his third ongoing term beginning in 2021, have been defined by navigating Lebanon's severe financial collapse, political deadlock, and the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosion.

Early life and education

Najib Mikati was born on 24 November 1955 in Tripoli, Lebanon, a major city in northern Lebanon with a predominantly Sunni Muslim population. He hails from a well-established family within the city's merchant class, which provided a foundation for his future commercial endeavors. He pursued his higher education at the prestigious American University of Beirut (AUB), where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree followed by a Master of Business Administration. His academic background in business administration from AUB, a leading institution in the Middle East, equipped him with the formal knowledge that would later underpin his successful corporate ventures.

Business career

Mikati, alongside his brother Taha Mikati, built a substantial international business empire, establishing them among the wealthiest individuals in the Arab world. Their flagship investment vehicle, the M1 Group, emerged from the telecommunications giant Investcom, which they founded and later sold to MTN Group in 2006 for billions of dollars. The M1 Group maintains diverse global investments spanning real estate, telecommunications, energy, finance, and aviation, with significant assets across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His vast wealth, often cited by Forbes, has been a central feature of his political profile, providing both financial clout and a source of public scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest between his private holdings and public duties.

Political career

Mikati's political entry began with his election as a Sunni representative for Tripoli in the Lebanese Parliament in 2000. He first joined the cabinet as Minister of Public Works and Transport under Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, overseeing major infrastructure projects. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has generally positioned himself as a centrist figure, often mediating between Lebanon's rival political blocs, including the March 8 Alliance and the March 14 Alliance. He founded the Azm Movement, a political party that, while not commanding a large parliamentary bloc, has leveraged his personal stature and relationships with key players like Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Hezbollah to maintain political relevance.

Prime Ministerships

Mikati's first, short-lived term as Prime Minister of Lebanon began in April 2005 following the resignation of Omar Karami, tasked with overseeing parliamentary elections. His second term (2011–2014) began after he gained the support of Hezbollah and its allies following the collapse of Saad Hariri's government, a move that drew sharp criticism from Western and Sunni leaders who viewed it as an extension of Syrian and Iranian influence. His third term commenced in September 2021, following over a year of political stalemate after the resignation of Hassan Diab's government in the wake of the 2020 Beirut explosion. This tenure has been overwhelmingly focused on managing an unprecedented economic meltdown, engaging in stalled negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, and presiding over a caretaker government amid a prolonged presidential vacuum after the term of Michel Aoun ended.

Personal life

Najib Mikati is married to May Mikati, and the couple has three children. He maintains residences in Beirut and Tripoli, and is known for his philanthropic activities, primarily through the Mikati Foundation. The foundation, chaired by his wife, focuses on educational, cultural, and social welfare projects within Lebanon, including scholarships and support for institutions like the American University of Beirut. Despite his immense wealth, he cultivates an image of a modest technocrat, though his lifestyle and global business interests remain a point of public discussion.

Controversies and criticism

Mikati's career has been marred by significant controversies and allegations of corruption and conflict of interest. He and his brother have faced investigations, including a French probe into alleged money laundering and corruption linked to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign. In Lebanon, he has been frequently criticized for leveraging his political office to benefit his M1 Group business empire. His perceived closeness to the Syrian government and the powerful Hezbollah militia has made him a contentious figure, with opponents accusing him of facilitating Iranian influence. As prime minister during the devastating financial crisis in Lebanon, he has faced intense public anger and protests for the ruling elite's failure to enact meaningful reforms, with many holding him personally responsible due to his vast wealth amassed while the country collapsed.

Category:Lebanese politicians Category:Prime Ministers of Lebanon Category:Lebanese businesspeople