Large protests swept Tripoli this week as residents defied strict Covid-19 lockdown measures to demand financial support and better living conditions in one of the poorest cities on the Mediterranean.
A man died on Thursday morning after he was shot in the back the night before by security forces who fired live ammunition at protesters, fuelling more anger and riots.
Thursday evening, protesters stormed the city’s municipal building and other government offices, setting them on fire.
Ghada Saraf, 39, protests daily in front of the Serail, the city’s municipal building. She said she had taken to the streets “because of unbearable poverty.”
“Our MPs are among Lebanon’s richest men,” she said. “God curse them, they have never helped us one bit.”
Although Tripoli is home to several business tycoons, billionaires and former prime ministers, the Sunni-majority city has long suffered from widespread poverty and neglect.
These grievances are now compounded by a severe economic crisis and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dubbed the “bride of the Revolution,” Lebanon’s second largest city has drawn large crowds to its streets since the onset of nationwide anti-government protests in October 2019.
Tripolitans called their movement a “revolution of hunger,” with big demonstrations persisting months after protests had died down in the rest of the country.
Protesters this week told The National that they had to choose between flouting lockdown measures so they can earn a living or going hungry.
The government announced plans to provide 400,000 Lebanese pounds ($263 – at the official exchange rate but only around $50 on the black market) per month to 230,000 poor families at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis.
But this aid is not sufficient for a country of 6 million where more than half of the population now lives under the poverty line after a severe economic crisis struck in 2019.
This, however, is not new for Tripoli where the poverty rate was already at 57 per cent before the crisis, according to UN data. The rate was twice as high as in the rest of the country.
Today, that poverty rate is up to 70 per cent, estimated Chadi Nachabe, a political analyst, member of Tripoli’s municipal council and head of several development projects in the city.
In Lebanon, where the weakened state struggles with basic services, sectarian leaders and their political parties often provide a social safety net to their supporters with handouts, jobs and NGOs to assist with everything from travel to education and health needs.
This clientelist system has further weakened the state and left people reliant on handouts from their local political leaders.
While this system has stood since at least the early days of the country’s 15-year civil war in 1975, it has been strained across the board in recent years and in Tripoli, it has been entirely lacking.
The city has long been marginalised by the central government and forgotten by a Sunni leadership on the decline.
In the early years of Syria’s civil war that began in 2011, instability in the city was rife.
In a microcosm of the nearby Syrian conflict, fighting between groups of Sunni and Alawites in neighbouring areas of the city caused massive damage, hundreds of young men departed to join the war and many ended up in extremist groups. Terror recruiters also set up and cells were established to plot and carry out attacks in Lebanon.
The leadership vacuum and the already dire economic situation in the city has been attributed to fuelling the instability.
Order was brought to Tripoli in 2015 as politicians in Beirut agreed to send in a large military deployment and promised that the security plan would be followed by a development plan. The latter half of the deal was never implemented.
The city’s reputation was damaged by the period of fighting and instability.
Pro-Hezbollah figures and Lebanese government officials, including Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, now voice concerns that extremism is on the rise every time Tripolitans take to the streets.
These claims remain unsubstantiated thus far.
Mr Hariri, Lebanon’s Sunni leader, has been losing popular support among his downtrodden co-religionists in the north.
But the influential, mostly pro-Syrian families of Tripoli that rival Mr Hariri have also been on the wane.
Mr Nachabe says the financial support that local political elites used to provide to their supporters has run dry as the economy steadily worsened over the last decade.
“The lack of Sunni leadership in the country is reflected in Tripoli. The youth feel marginalised and the economic situation has always been very difficult,” Mr Nachabe told The National.
Residents said they want financial support and jobs, but feel ignored by their leaders.
Haitham, 34, has been protesting regularly this week. He said he makes roughly 400,000 Lebanese pounds working as a doorman and has been struggling to feed his family of four.
“Najib Mikati is the richest man in Tripoli, can’t he spare a bag of potatoes and a carton of eggs for people like us?” he asked.
Forbes estimates that the former prime minister and member of parliament is worth $2.3 billion and was once Lebanon’s richest man.
“Hariri and Mohamed Safadi are no better,” he said, referring to another millionaire Tripolitan businessman and former minister.
Sunni leaders, including Mr Hariri, have condemned the protests that turned violent.
Caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab described the rioters as “criminals” who must be “arrested one by one.”
Mr Mikati threatened to take arms against his constituents after demonstrators attacked an institute he founded and gathered in front of the houses of local MPs.
“The Shiite and the Christian political leaders help their people get by, but we have no one to look after us,” Haitham said.
“Even the mufti doesn’t care.”
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Haemoglobin disorders explained
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.
Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Tuesday, April 23: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Wednesday, April 24: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Thursday, April 25: 11am-5pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Friday, April 26: 3pm to 6pm Finals of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
