Lebanon: Day of mourning declared nationwide on first anniversary of Beirut port explosion Aug. 4

Event

Lebanon will observe a national day of mourning on Aug. 4, the first anniversary of a major explosion at the Port of Beirut. All public administrations, institutions, and municipalities will be closed. Demonstrations demanding justice and accountability for the victims of the explosion are highly likely nationwide. Protester leaders allege that politicians are obstructing the investigation into the blast and have called for lawmakers' protection from prosecution to be revoked.

Prominent potential rally sites include public squares, government buildings, and city centers. In Beirut, protests are likely to materialize at the Port of Beirut, the Ministry of Justice, Riad el-Solh Road, Martyrs' Square, and near the government palace. Demonstrators may burn tires and sporadically barricade main roadways during protests, prompting ground travel disruptions. Transport delays could, in turn, result in further commercial disruptions. Security forces will almost certainly monitor and respond to all protests and roadblocks. Clashes between security forces and protesters are likely if activists ignore police orders or are overly disruptive.

Context

A major explosion at the Port of Beirut killed at least 200 people and wounded about 6,000 others in August 2020. Investigators linked the blast to some 2,750 tons of seized ammonium nitrate that officials had been storing in a port warehouse since 2014. The blast inflicted severe damage across the capital, leveling buildings near the port and shattering windows in structures throughout the downtown area and surrounding suburbs. Government officials have been heavily criticized for their inaction in dealing with the ammonium nitrate, especially after documents surfaced that President Michel Aoun and then-Prime Minister Hassan Diab were warned in July 2020 that the stockpile posed a security risk. The information sent to Aoun and Diab was reportedly only the most recent in a series of documents port and security officials had sent to government officials over the previous six years, urging for the removal of the stockpile. Deflection of responsibility among the country’s leaders has greatly angered the Lebanese public, many of whom distrust the government.

Advice

Liaise with trusted contacts regarding protest sites, and maintain contact with diplomatic missions. Avoid all demonstrations due to the potential for localized clashes or other security incidents. Allow significant extra time to reach destinations in city centers in Lebanon Aug, 4. Do not attempt to pass through protester roadblocks; wait for authorities to remove them. Be alert for residual debris and sharp objects if driving on previously blocked roads. Heed the instructions of local security personnel. Remain courteous and cooperative if approached and questioned by law enforcement officers. Reconfirm business appointments.