Does Lebanon's NACC truly deliver accountability?

Corruption is not a new phenomenon witnessed in Lebanon, but has rather remained one of the country’s most persistent governance challenges, affecting public administration, state finances, and citizens’ confidence in institutions. The economic collapse that began in 2019 further exposed weaknesses in oversight mechanisms, as allegations of mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and misuse of public resources intensified amid a broader crisis of state legitimacy.

Within this context, Lebanon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was created as a central pillar of the country’s reform framework. Established under Law No. 175/2020 on Combating Corruption in the Public Sector and Establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the body was designed to investigate corruption allegations, monitor transparency obligations, and strengthen accountability across public institutions.

However, nearly six years after the law was adopted and several years after the Commission became operational, the central question remains whether the NACC and Lebanon’s anti-corruption framework can translate it perceived goals into concrete and tangible results.

The 2025 report: First indicators of activity, but limited reach

The Commission’s 2025 Annual Report provides one of the clearest assessments of its practical work since its members were appointed in 2022. According to lawyer and academic Dr. Judith El-Tini, who spoke to The Beiruter, the report shows that the institution has begun receiving complaints and issuing decisions, particularly in relation to public administration and access to information.

During 2025, the Commission received 32 complaints against public administrations and issued 28 decisions, including 23 final decisions and five preliminary decisions. It also received 16 requests related to access to information, issuing 12 final decisions.

Among its decisions, the Commission ordered several public bodies to provide requested information to citizens. These included cases involving public administrations, municipalities, and other official entities that had failed to respond adequately to requests submitted under Lebanon’s Right to Access Information Law.

Yet, while these figures demonstrate that the Commission is no longer inactive, they also highlight the gap between its broad mandate and the scale of corruption challenges facing Lebanon. The institution was created to address corruption across the public sector, including allegations involving financial misconduct, illicit enrichment, conflicts of interest, and the misuse of public funds. Compared with the magnitude of corruption concerns raised over recent years, the number of cases handled remains relatively limited.

A comprehensive legal framework, but enforcement remains uncertain

According to El-Tini, the Commission is part of a wider legislative effort that saw Lebanon adopt approximately 14 laws related to combating corruption between 2008 and 2025. These reforms were largely introduced in response to international obligations, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), anti-money laundering commitments, and recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF/GAFI) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The legal framework now includes legislation on whistleblower protection, access to information, illicit enrichment, petroleum sector transparency, public procurement, and the recovery of assets derived from corruption.

Law No. 175/2020 granted the Commission significant powers. It can receive corruption disclosures, investigate allegations, protect whistleblowers, examine declarations of assets and interests submitted by public officials, and refer cases to judicial authorities.

It can also request cooperation from relevant financial authorities, including the Special Investigation Commission established under Law No. 44/2015, particularly when investigations involve suspicious financial transactions or potential asset recovery.

We are not speaking about a law that exists only on paper; the Commission has been established and has begun exercising the powers granted to it.

However, the existence of legal powers does not automatically guarantee accountability. Lebanon’s previous reform efforts have frequently faced difficulties at the implementation stage, particularly when investigations involve politically connected individuals or institutions.

Administrative delays and financial constraints continue to hinder the commission

Despite its legal independence, the Commission has faced significant institutional obstacles since its creation.

Although Law No. 175 was adopted in 2020, the Commission’s members were only appointed in January 2022, delaying the beginning of its operational work. The approval of its internal regulations also required lengthy administrative procedures, postponing the establishment of a complete administrative structure and the appointment of permanent staff.

Financial limitations have represented another major challenge. The founding law allocated LBP 10 billion for the Commission’s first operational year. However, only LBP 6 billion was initially approved in 2022, while the remaining amount was not immediately transferred. During a period of rapid currency depreciation and economic instability, delays in funding significantly affected the institution’s purchasing power and ability to expand its operations.

More recently, a government decision transferred approximately LBP 21.4 billion from the state budget reserve to the Commission’s 2026 budget. While this represented an increase in available resources, questions remain over whether funding levels are sufficient for an institution expected to investigate complex financial crimes and monitor corruption across the public sector.

The Commission has also benefited from technical assistance from international partners, including the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and foreign governments. However, continued reliance on external support raises broader questions regarding long-term sustainability and institutional independence.

Reform requires more than legislation

For El-Tini, the next stage of reform does not necessarily require creating additional laws, but rather ensuring that existing mechanisms are effectively used.

She argued that the Commission already has the legal independence necessary to perform its duties. Its members are appointed through professional selection mechanisms, serve non-renewable six-year mandates, and are protected from removal during their terms.

The remaining challenge is increasing public participation and awareness of the Commission’s role and corruption generally. Citizens must know that they can submit corruption complaints, request information from public administrations, and report wrongdoing through protected channels. Without public participation, even the strongest institutional framework risks remaining ineffective.