The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, receiving the Druze Sheikh Akl Sami Abi el-Mona in Baabda on May 15, 2025. Photo taken from the X account of the presidency.
Sheikh Akl Sami Abi al-Mona, the spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Druze community, met President Joseph Aoun in Baabda on Thursday, where the two discussed the need for the state to maintain a monopoly on arms and efforts to restore trust with Gulf countries.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in Syria between Druze fighters and forces aligned with the country's new authorities, clashes that have killed dozens in recent weeks. Sheikh Abi al-Mona has recently held talks with several Lebanese political figures and foreign diplomats in Beirut.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), Abi al-Mona expressed support for President Aoun’s domestic and international initiatives, particularly those aimed at consolidating the state's control over weapons. He said this goal could be achieved “through dialogue.”
Aoun has repeatedly said that the state has “taken the decision” to prohibit weapons outside the army’s control but has not outlined specific steps or a timeline for addressing the issue, particularly with Hezbollah, which maintains a large arsenal outside state authority.
Asked about the government's reform program, Abi al-Mona said “more is needed” to restore confidence in Lebanon, while expressing hope that Arab support would be translated into concrete financial assistance to reduce the country's deficit.
Abi al-Mona also extended a personal invitation to Aoun to attend a cultural seminar in the Druze-majority Aley district. The event is part of a planned series of meetings across the country, culminating in a national conference under the president’s patronage, which would bring together religious leaders and national figures.
