Jean Kahwaji
جان قهوجي
Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces
In office
30 August 2008  8 March 2017
PresidentMichel Suleiman
Michel Aoun
Preceded byMichel Suleiman
Succeeded byJoseph Aoun
Personal details
Born (1953-09-23) 23 September 1953
Ain Ebel, Nabatiye, Lebanon
Political partyIndependent
SpouseMarleine Sfeir
Alma materLebanese Army Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance Lebanon
Branch/serviceLebanese Army
Years of service1973–2017
RankGeneral

Jean Kahwaji (Arabic: جان قهوجي [ʤaːn qah'waʤiː]; born 1953) is a former Lebanese military officer and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces from 2008 to 2017.

Career

Kahwaji joined the Lebanese army in 1973. He trained abroad, especially in the United States and Italy. He also underwent anti-terrorism training in Germany in 2006, as well as in Italy. He headed the army's 12th Infantry Brigade since 2002. He also went to the Swedish military school in Boden Garrison in Sweden for terrain warfare during the 1990s.

On 30 August 2008, the Lebanese government appointed Brigadier-General Jean Kahwaji to be chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, replacing Michel Suleiman,[1] who became President of Lebanon in May 2008. He is the 13th chief officer in all of the army's 63-year history.[2]

Corruption charges

Kahwaji has been charged several times with corruption and illicit enrichment. As an army official, Kahwaji is suspected of using his influence to accrue vast fortunes, and accepting bribes. In December 2020, a Lebanese judge has filed corruption charges against him and other high-ranked officials.[3]

Murder enquiry

On 24 January 2023, Judge Tarek Bitar charged Kahwaji and the former Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, with 'Homicide with intent' under the probe into the Beirut explosion in 2020. Judge Bitar also charged Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat - the head of Lebanon's domestic intelligence agency Major General Abbas Ibrahim and other current and former security and judicial officials.[4]

Personal life

Jean Kahwaji is married to Marleine Sfeir. They have three children: Jad, Joanna and Joe. He is a Maronite Christian.[5]

See also

References

  1. Jane's intelligence digest: the global early-warning service. Jane's Information Group. 2009-05-01.
  2. "Army Commander Jean Kahwaji". NOW. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. Azhari, Timour. "Lebanon ex-army boss, intelligence heads charged with corruption". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  4. "Lebanon blast investigator charges former PM, top public prosecutor". ABC News. 24 January 2023.
  5. "Exclusive: Lebanon army chief sees growing risk from Syrian camps". Reuters. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
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