“One Of The African Tribes”

Ahmad Nasser describes the Lebanese in West Africa:

With Lebanese having established diaspora communities across west Africa over several decades, they have become “one of the African tribes,” Nasser said — one that has contributed to regional prosperity, but that lacks a domestic government able to get its nationals out in an emergency situation.

As a west African Lebanese myself, I understand what he’s talking about. But it’s worth noting some differences between countries. Many in Cote D’ivoir are poor Lebanese southerners who can’t go anywhere else. Some don’t even have homes and family in Lebanon. The Lebanese in Ghana on the other hand are generally merchants and middle class families from Tripoli and North-Beirut. Those do own houses and property in Lebanon.