Name of leader Michel Aoun
Organization Renegade Lebanese Army under General Aoun
Conflict country Syria
Gender Male
Year of birth 1935[1][2]
Place of birth Harat Hreik, southern Beirut, Lebanon[3]
Year of death N/A
Deceased
No; he is still alive.
Birth order
His birth order is unknown.
Age at start of rebel leadership
In March 1989, he launched a “War of Liberation” to expel Syrian forces. He was aged 54.
Leader entry method
His entry method is unclear. He was appointed by Amine Gemayel as a caretaker prime minister of Lebanon.[5] In March 1989, he launched a “War of Liberation” expelling Syrian forces.[6] In December 1989, he made a “human shield around Baabda presidential palace.” He surrendered in October 1990.[7]
Powersharing
No; his organization did not involve powersharing leadership.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“He obtained his bachelor's degree from the Freres school in Jumayza in Beirut. In 1955 he entered the Military Academy in Beirut and graduated in 1959. He specialized in artillery in his military career. He studied at Challonssur-Marne in France and at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. From 1978 to 1980 he had training at the prestigious Ecole de Guerre in Paris.”[8]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes[9]; he married at age 33.[10] “He is married to Nadia al-Shami.”[11]
Children
Yes; he and his wife have three daughters: Mireille, Claudne, and Chantal.[12]
Religious identification
He is Maronite Christian.[13][14]
Elite Family background
“He is a Maronite Christian, the son of Mary and Naim Aoun, the milkman from Haret Hreik, the mixed Shiite-Maronite neighborhood adjacent to the southern Beirut neighborhood of Dahiya.”[15]
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
Yes, he was an army commander in Lebanon’s civil war from 1974 to 1990.[16] He was an interim Prime Minister in 1998 by the former leader of the government.[17]
Physical and mental health
No; there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He had a military career.
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
Yes, “he became the head of the Defense Brigade in 1980. Two years later he was given command of a new Eighth Brigade, which was a multi-confessional army unit.”[18] He was an army commander in Lebanon’s civil war from 1974 to 1990.[19]
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
Yes; he rose to power in September 1988 when he was appointed head of an interim government before another government was elected.[20]
Lived in exile?
No; he was not the leader while exiled. He went to the French embassy in October 1990 when Syrian and allied Lebanese militia stormed the palace he was holed up in. He then went into exile in France until 2005. He maintained supporters while in exile.[21]
Study abroad?
Yes; he studied in France.[22]
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
Yes, he studied in France and the US, at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.[23]
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No; there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No; he did not serve time in prison.
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
It is unclear whether there was an assassination attempt by the state.[24]
Cause of Death?
N/A
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He speaks Arabic and French.
[1] Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/General_Michel_Aoun.jpg/440px-General_Michel_Aoun.jpg
Tom O’Connor, “Who Is Michel Aoun? Lebanon's New Christian President Is Backed By Hezbollah Shiite Muslim Militant Group,” International Business Times, October 31, 2016, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://www.ibtimes.com/who-michel-aoun-lebanons-new-christian-president-backed-hezbollah-shiite-muslim-2439433
[2] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[3] Tom O’Connor, “Who Is Michel Aoun? Lebanon's New Christian President Is Backed By Hezbollah Shiite Muslim Militant Group,” International Business Times, October 31, 2016, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://www.ibtimes.com/who-michel-aoun-lebanons-new-christian-president-backed-hezbollah-shiite-muslim-2439433.
[4] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[5] “Biography of Michel Aoun,” encyclopedia.jrank, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5530/Aoun-Michel-1935.html.
[6] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[7] “Lebanon,” The PRS Group/International Country Risk Guide, February 1991, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[8] “Michel Aoun Facts,” Your Dictionary, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://biography.yourdictionary.com/michel-aoun.
[9] “MICHEL AOUN,” Free eBooks by Project Gutenberg, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://central.gutenberg.org/articles/eng/Michel_Aoun.
[10] Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah “Lebanon under General Michel Aoun – A Profile and a Preliminary Assessment,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://jcpa.org/lebanon-general-michel-aoun-profile-preliminary-assessment/.
[11] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[12] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[13] “Michel Aoun Facts,” Your Dictionary, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://biography.yourdictionary.com/michel-aoun.
[14] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[15] Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah “Lebanon under General Michel Aoun – A Profile and a Preliminary Assessment,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://jcpa.org/lebanon-general-michel-aoun-profile-preliminary-assessment/.
[16] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[17] “Political Conditions Lebanon,” Country Watch Reviews, June 21, 2018, Accessed through Lexus Nexis.
[18] “Biography of Michel Aoun,” encyclopedia.jrank, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5530/Aoun-Michel-1935.html.
[19] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[20] “Flees to French Embassy,” Facts on File World News Digest, October 18, 1990, Accessed December 13, 1990, through Lexus Nexis.
[21] Bassem Mroue, “Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President; Michel Aoun: Lebanon’s Popular Yet Divisive New President,” Canadian Press, October 31, 2016, Accessed December 13, 2018 through Lexus Nexis.
[22] “Biography of Michel Aoun,” encyclopedia.jrank, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5530/Aoun-Michel-1935.html.
[23] “Biography of Michel Aoun,” encyclopedia.jrank, Accessed April 1, 2018, http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5530/Aoun-Michel-1935.html.
[24] Nora Boustany, “AOUN ESCAPES ASSASSINATION BID UNHURT,” October 13, 1990, Accessed April 1, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/10/13/aoun-escapes-assassination-bid-unhurt/24231fa4-1e5e-4950-a4cc-8b0839f2682e/?utm_term=.c3a7f48e7e05.
