Lebanon erupts in protests

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Police face off with protesters outside a government building in Beirut on Saturday. Associated Press/Photo by Hassan Ammar

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators crowded the streets of Beirut and other Lebanese cities on Sunday, waving flags and chanting “revolution.” The unrest showed no sign of letting up despite the Lebanese government announcing a set of economic reforms on Monday.

What sparked the unrest? Protesters first took to the streets on Thursday over proposed taxes on WhatsApp and other internet messaging services. The government pulled back the measure, but the unrest grew into calls for an end to corruption and improved public services. Lebanon’s Shiite, Sunni, and Christian groups, which are often at odds, all agree on the need for change.

Dig deeper: Read Middle Eastern journalist James Haines-Young’s explanation of why this round of protests differs from the past.

Onize Ohikere

Onize is WORLD’s Africa reporter and deputy global desk chief. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University–Moorhead. Onize resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

@onize_ohiks