Profile Text
Birth Name: Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam
Place of Birth: Beirut, Lebanon
Date of Birth: 15 December, 1953
Ethnicity: Lebanese
Nawaf Salam is a Lebanese politician, jurist, academic, and diplomat. He has been Prime Minister of Lebanon, since 8 February, 2025. He has also been President of the United Nations Security Council, from 1 May, 2010 to 31 May, 2010, and again, from 1 September, 2011 to 30 September 2011; Permanent representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, from 13 July, 2007 to 15 December, 2017; Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly, from 1 September, 2012 to 31 August, 2013; Judge of the International Court of Justice, from 6 February, 2018 to 14 January, 2025; and President of the International Court of Justice, from 6 February, 2024 to 14 January, 2025.
He is the son of mother Reckat Beyhum and father Abdallah Salam. Nawaf is married to diplomat and journalist Sahar Baassiri, with whom he has two children. Sahar has been Ambassador of Lebanon to UNESCO, since January 2018. He is a Sunni Muslim. He is fluent in Frecnh and English.
Nawaf is the nephew of feminist, translator, and author, Anbara Salam Khalidi, who led women’s emancipation in Lebanon; and of politician and za’im/political boss Saeb Salam, who was also Prime Minister of Lebanon, from 14 September, 1952 to 18 September, 1952, again, from 1 May, 1953 to 16 August, 1953, again, from 2 August, 1960 to 31 October, 1961, and again, from 13 October, 1970 to 25 April, 1973. He was considered one of Lebanon’s most popular Prime Ministers. One of Nawaf’s uncles, Malik, was married to the sister of politician Rashid Karami, who was also Prime Minister of Lebanon, at least eight times.
Nawaf is a first cousin of politician Tammam Salam, who was Minister of Culture, from 11 July, 2008 to 9 November, 2009, and Prime Minister of Lebanon, from 15 February, 2014 to 18 December, 2016. Tammam is Saeb Salam’s son; and is married to activist Lama Salam. Nawaf is also a first cousin of Palestinian historian Tarif Khalidi and Arab biochemist Usama al-Khalidi; who are Anbara Khalidi’s sons. His step-cousin was Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi, who was Anbara’s step-son. His first cousin, once removed, is historical fiction author Anbara Salam, who is Anbara Khalidi’s granddaughter.
Nawaf’s paternal grandfather was named Salim Ali Salam. Salim was a prominent Beirut politician, merchant, and import-export businessperson, who led the “Beirut Reform Movement” to modernize and democratize the Ottoman Empire; and was later also a politician under the French Mandate. Salim was a deputy to the Ottoman Parliament from Beirut, President of the Municipality of Beirut, and President of the Muslim Society of Benevolent Intentions/al-Makassed.
Nawaf’s paternal grandmother was named Kulthum Barbir. Kulthum’s grandfather was Ahmad Al Agharr/Aghar, who was mufti, qadi, and naqib al-ashraf, a head of the order of the descendants of Muhammad.