Hussein Al Oweini


Hussein Al Oweini was a Lebanese businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Lebanon twice. He also held other cabinet positions.

Early life

Oweini was born in 1900. He was a member of a Sunni family from Beirut.

Career

Oweini went to Saudi Arabia and worked as a business agent for the House of Saud from 1923 to 1947. He also founded a company, Ne'ma Te'ma, in Riyadh. He was first appointed interim prime minister on 14 February 1951 under president Bechara El Khoury succeeding Riad Al Solh. He was in office until 7 April 1951 and succeeded by Abdullah Arif Yafi. On 27 September 1957, Oweini and two other former prime ministers, Saeb Salam and Abdallah El-Yafi, were arrested on charges of planning an armed coup and riots during the elections held in May.
Oweini's second term as prime minister was from 20 February 1964 to 25 July 1965 under president Charles Helou. Both his predecessor and successor was Rashid Karami as prime minister. Oweini was the leader of the National Front. He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants for three separate terms, from 1958 to 1960, in 1965, and 1968 to 1969. During his third term as foreign minister, Oweini also acted as Minister of National Defense.

Death

Oweini died on 10 December 1971, aged 70. After his death, the Hussein Al Oweini Award was named in his honor.