The Thawra Against the Sectarian Elite
On October 17, 2019, Lebanese citizens erupted in unprecedented cross-sectarian protests against political corruption, economic collapse, and the ruling elite’s patronage system. What began as anger over a proposed WhatsApp tax escalated into months of mass demonstrations demanding the overthrow of the entire political class, united by the rallying cry “Kellon Yaani Kellon” (All of them means all of them).
Economic Collapse and the Final Straw
Lebanon’s economic crisis reached breaking point in fall 2019: severe dollar shortages, banking restrictions, electricity blackouts, garbage accumulation, and
government dysfunction. A proposed $6/month tax on WhatsApp calls—affecting Lebanon’s primary communication lifeline amid expensive telecom monopolies—became the symbolic last straw.
Within hours of the announcement, thousands flooded downtown Beirut, blocking highways across the country. Prime Minister Saad Hariri rescinded the tax within 24 hours, but protesters demanded systematic change: technocratic government, early elections, recovery of stolen funds, electricity 24/7, and accountability for corruption.
Unity Across Sectarian Lines
The protests shattered Lebanon’s entrenched sectarian political system where Maronite Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, and Druze communities had long voted along confessional lines. Young Lebanese across sects united in rejecting warlord-politicians from the civil war generation who had governed since 1990, enriching themselves while infrastructure crumbled.
Dabke dancing, DJ parties, and communal meals transformed Martyrs’ Square into a festival of resistance. Protesters blockaded roads with burning tires, formed human chains spanning the country, and occupied banking districts. Women led many demonstrations, challenging patriarchal political structures.
Crackdowns, Resignations, and Betrayal
Prime Minister Hariri resigned November 29, 2019, after two weeks of paralysis, but protests continued as political elites simply reshuffled positions. Security forces deployed increasing violence: rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and arbitrary arrests. Hezbollah and Amal supporters attacked protest camps, beating demonstrators.
The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 forced protest cessation, giving elites cover to maintain power. The catastrophic August 4, 2020 Beirut Port explosion—killing 218 and displacing 300,000—exposed governance failures protesters had denounced, but also extinguished revolutionary energy as survival became paramount.
By 2021, Lebanon’s currency lost 90% of its value, banks imposed de facto capital controls, and electricity ran 2-3 hours daily. The political class remained entrenched despite economic devastation. The thawra demonstrated Lebanese desire for systemic change but also revealed sectarian elites’ grip and regional powers’ (Iran, Saudi Arabia, France) interests in maintaining the status quo.
Sources:
The Guardian, Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, Carnegie Middle East Center, Human Rights Watch