Minister of Foreign Affairs (Libya) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh since 3 September 2023 (during suspension of Najla El Mangoush)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Style	Mr. Minister (currently) Miss. Minister (Not at the moment)
Member of	Cabinet of Libya
Reports to	Prime Minister
Seat	Tripoli, Libya
Term length	No fixed term At the Prime Minister's behest
Formation	29 March 1951; 74 years ago (1951-03-29)
First holder	Ali Jerbi
Website	www.foreign.gov.ly

This article lists the people who have served as the top diplomat for Libya. These important leaders are known as foreign ministers. They help Libya connect with other countries around the world.

What Does a Foreign Minister Do?

A foreign minister is like a country's main spokesperson to the rest of the world. Their job is to manage how their country talks to other nations. This includes making friends, solving problems, and working together on global issues.

They represent their country in international meetings. They also help create treaties and agreements. The exact name for this role can change depending on the government in power. For example, in Libya's past, the title was "Secretary of People's Committee for Foreign Communication."

Libya's Foreign Ministers Through History

Libya has had many foreign ministers since it became an independent country. Each minister played a part in shaping Libya's relationships with other nations. Here is a list of these important individuals.

Early Foreign Ministers: Before Independence

Before Libya became fully independent, a provisional (temporary) government was set up. This government also had a foreign minister to handle early international relations.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Ali Jerbi	1903–1969	29 March 1951 – 24 December 1951	Mahmud al-Muntasir

Libya's Kingdom Era: 1951-1969

After gaining independence, Libya became a kingdom. During this time, several individuals served as foreign minister. They helped establish Libya's place on the world stage.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Mahmud al-Muntasir	1903–1970	24 December 1951 – 19 February 1954	Mahmud al-Muntasir
	Muhammad Sakizli	1892–1976	19 February 1951 – 11 April 1954	Muhammad Sakizli
	Abdul Salam al-Buseiri	1898–?	11 April 1954 – 3 December 1954	Mustafa Ben Halim
	Mustafa Ben Halim	1921– 2021	3 December 1954 – 30 October 1956
	Ali Sahli	1924–2004	30 October 1956 – 14 March 1957
	Abdul Majid Kubar (1st time)	1909–1988	14 March 1957 – 26 May 1957
	Wahbi al-Bouri (1st time)	1916–2010	26 May 1956 – 11 October 1958	Abdul Majid Kubar
	Abdul Majid Kubar (2nd time)	1909–1988	11 October 1958 – 16 October 1960
	Abdul Qadir al-Allam	1919–2003	16 October 1960 – 3 May 1961	Muhammad Osman Said
	Suleiman Jerbi	?	3 May 1961 – 27 January 1962
	Wanis al-Qaddafi (1st time)	1924–1986	27 January 1962 – 6 March 1963
	Omar Mahmud al-Muntasir	1930–1999	6 March 1963 – 19 March 1963		Muhammad Osman Said
	Mohieddin Fikini	1925–1994	19 March 1963 – 22 January 1964	Mohieddin Fikini
	Hussein Maziq	1918–2006	22 January 1964 – 20 March 1965	Mahmud al-Muntasir
	Wahbi al-Bouri (2nd time)	1916–2010	20 March 1965 – 2 October 1965	Hussein Maziq
	Ahmad Bishti	born 1927	2 October 1965 – 4 January 1968	Hussein Maziq (1965–1967) Abdul Qadir al-Badri (1967) Abdul Hamid al-Bakkoush (1967–1968)
	Wanis al-Qaddafi (2nd time)	1924–1986	4 January 1968 – 4 September 1968	Abdul Hamid al-Bakkoush
	Shams ad-Din Orabi	died 2009	4 September 1968 – June 1969	Wanis al-Qaddafi
	Ali Hassanein	1925–2018	June 1969 – 31 August 1969

Libya Under Gaddafi: 1969-2011

After a change in government in 1969, Libya entered a new political period. The role of foreign minister continued to be very important. The title for this role also changed during this time.

Libyan Arab Republic: 1969-1977

This period saw Libya as a republic. Foreign ministers worked to build relationships with other countries under this new system.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Salah Busir	1925–1973	1969–1970	Mahmud Suleiman Maghribi
	Mohammed Najm	1943–2016	1970–1972	Muammar Gaddafi
	Mansour Rashid El-Kikhia	1931–c. 1993	1972–1973	Abdessalam Jalloud
	Abdul Monem el Houni	?	1974–1975
	Ali Treki (1st time)	1938–2015	1976–1977

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: 1977-2011

During the Jamahiriya era, the foreign minister was called the "Secretary of the People's Committee for External Communication." This title showed the unique way Libya was governed.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Secretary of General People's Committee
Secretaries of the People's Committee for External Communication
	Ali Treki	1938–2015	1977–1982	Abdul Ati al-Obeidi (1977–1979) Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi (1979–1982)
	Abdul Ati al-Obeidi (1st time)	1939–2023	1982–1984	Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi
	Ali Treki (2nd time)	1938–2015	1984–1986	Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab
	Kamel Maghur	1935–2002	1986–1987	Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi
	Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi	1939–2024	1987–1990	Umar Mustafa al-Muntasir
	Ibrahim al Bishari	c. 1942–1997	1990–1992	Abuzed Omar Dorda
	Umar Mustafa al-Muntasir	1939–2001	1992–2000	Abuzed Omar Dorda (1992–1994) Abdul Majid al-Qa′ud (1994–1997) Muhammad Ahmad al-Mangoush (1997–2000)
	Abdel Rahman Shalgham	born 1949	2000–2009	Imbarek Shamekh (2000–2003) Shukri Ghanem (2003–2006) Baghdadi Mahmudi (2006–2009)
	Moussa Koussa	born 1950	2009–2011	Baghdadi Mahmudi
	Abdul Ati al-Obeidi (2nd time)	1939–2023	2011

Transitional Period: 2011-2021

After 2011, Libya went through a period of big changes. During this time, different governments worked to bring stability. Foreign ministers played a key role in these efforts.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Mahmoud Jibril	1952–2020	23 March 2011 – 23 November 2011	Mahmoud Jibril
	Ashour Bin Khayal	born 1939	24 November 2011 – 14 November 2012	Abdurrahim El-Keib
	Mohamed Abdelaziz	born c. 1952	14 November 2012 – 28 September 2014	Ali Zeidan (2012–2014) Abdullah al-Thani (2014)
	Mohammed al-Dairi	born 1952	28 September 2014 – 28 February 2019	Abdullah al-Thani
	Abdulhadi Elhweg	born 1971	28 February 2019 – 15 March 2021	Abdullah al-Thani

Government of National Accord: 2016-2021

The Government of National Accord was formed to unite different groups in Libya. Its foreign minister worked to represent Libya internationally during this period.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Mohamed Taha Siala	born 1943	30 March 2016 – 15 March 2021	Fayez al-Sarraj

Government of National Unity: 2021-Present

The Government of National Unity was created to bring stability and prepare for elections. Its foreign ministers continue to work on Libya's international relationships.

Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Term of office	Prime Minister
	Najla Mangoush	born 1970	15 March 2021 – 28 August 2023 (Suspended)	Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh
	Fathallah al-Zani (Acting)	born 1985	28 August 2023 – 3 September 2023
	Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh (Acting)	born 1958	3 September 2023 – Present