In a shared commitment to tackling the social and humanitarian challenges in Lebanon, the Lebanese Army, the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), and the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta have signed a memorandum of understanding. This agreement was signed on Tuesday January 7, 2025, by General Joseph Aoun, Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, Major General Diodate Abagnara, representing the MTC4L, and Mr. Marwan Sehnaoui, President of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, also known as the Order of Malta Lebanon.
This partnership builds on the long-standing cooperation between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Lebanese state in serving vulnerable populations with professionalism and transparency. It also highlights the deep and enduring relationship between the Order of Malta Lebanon and the Lebanese Army, founded on mutual respect and a shared commitment to serving the Lebanese people.
The initiative brings together the Lebanese Army, the MTC4L, and the Order of Malta Lebanon, an organization with nationwide operations in Lebanon that runs over 60 projects in healthcare, social support, and agro-humanitarian development to assist the most disadvantaged communities. The MTC4L, established at an international level is currently composed of 8 members (Italy, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union), observers/partners and contributors (Australia, Canada, Egypt, Japan, the European External Action Service – EEAS, the European Union Military Staff – EUMS, UNIFIL, UNSCOL, Qatar, Belgium and Denmark), operates under Italian leadership. It has a dual mission: to support the Lebanese Army and, more importantly, the Lebanese population through humanitarian initiatives. The MTC4L acts in compliance with current United Nations resolutions and bilateral and international missions operating in Lebanon.
These three entities unite under an apolitical banner to contribute to Lebanon’s stability and resilience, emphasizing the complementary roles of civilian and military collaboration. This partnership aligns with the humanitarian mission of the Order of Malta to assist vulnerable populations. Joint committees representing the three institutions will oversee the planning and implementation of their joint actions to ensure alignment with national and community priorities. The agreement takes immediate effect and is set for an initial term of three years, with automatic renewals, ensuring a long-term collaboration.