📰 8 sources 11 articles · 15 Oct 2026, 08:23 → 2 days ago

IMF discussions with Lebanon and an expected mission in November

The IMF said its officials held "good" discussions with the Lebanese authorities this week focused on the banking sector, restoring Lebanese confidence in the financial system and returning public debt to a sustainable path, with a mission to Lebanon planned for November. In the same context, Central Bank Governor Karim Saeed said the negotiations were progressing well, expecting agreement with the Fund before the end of the year on the financial gap law, paving the way for repaying depositors' funds.

📍 Where things stand: Discussions between Lebanon and the Fund continue, with a mission to visit in November, while the Central Bank Governor expects agreement before the end of the year on the financial gap law and its approval by Parliament by mid-2027.

⏱️ Timeline

15 Oct 2026, 08:23 IMF Deputy Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Athanasios Arvanitis said Fund officials held "good" discussions with the Lebanese authorities this week, that these will continue over the coming weeks, and that an IMF team intends to visit Lebanon in November, noting the discussions focused on the banking sector, restoring the Lebanese people's confidence in the financial system and returning public debt to a sustainable path.
15 Oct 2026, 14:48 The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon said the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are progressing at a good pace.
15 Oct 2026, 19:25 Central Bank Governor Karim Saeed expected Lebanon to reach an agreement with the IMF on the financial gap law before the end of the year, paving the way to repay frozen depositors' funds; the Central Bank estimates its liabilities toward banks at about $79 billion, while the amount likely to be repaid to depositors is about $50 billion; Saeed hopes Parliament approves the law no later than mid-2027.
15 Oct 2026, 21:35 Central Bank Governor Karim Saeed affirmed that the talks with the IMF are progressing at a good pace, expressing confidence that consensus will be reached before the end of the year on the principles needing clarification in the financial gap law, and hoping Parliament will approve the law by mid-2027; he said the Central Bank's liabilities toward the banking sector amount to about $79 billion, and that a third of this amount may be subject to objections.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

How the sources covered it

Some coverage focused on the IMF's announcement of "good" discussions with the Lebanese authorities and the expected November mission and its topics, while other coverage focused on Central Bank Governor Karim Saeed's remarks and the figures for the Central Bank's liabilities, the amount likely to be repaid to depositors and the financial gap law.

annahar.com Led with remarks by Middle East and Central Asia Deputy Director Athanasios Arvanitis on "good" discussions with the Lebanese authorities and the expected Fund team visit in November, detailing the banking sector, depositor confidence and public debt topics.
Reuters Limited to reporting an IMF official's announcement that the Fund will send a mission to Lebanon in November, without details on the discussion topics.
المدن Combined the description of the discussions with the Lebanese authorities as "good" with the expected November visit, highlighting their focus on the banking sector, restoring Lebanese confidence in the financial system and returning public debt to a sustainable path.
Al Akhbar Highlighted that discussions with Lebanon concern the banking sector and public debt, describing the file as a leading axis of any financial reform path, without mentioning the mission date or the official's remarks in detail.
الشرق بلومبرغ Opened with Central Bank Governor Karim Saeed's expectation of an agreement with the Fund on the financial gap law before the end of the year, highlighting the figures of $79 billion in liabilities toward banks, $50 billion likely repaid to depositors and parliamentary approval by mid-2027.
Lebanon Debate Focused on the Central Bank Governor's confidence in reaching consensus before the end of the year on the principles needing clarification in the financial gap law, noting that a third of the Bank's roughly $79 billion in liabilities may be subject to objections.