Mohamed al-Menfi, Head of the Presidential Council of Libya
Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi (Arabic: محمد يونس المنفي; born 3 March 1976) is a Libyan diplomat and politician who has served as President of the Libyan Presidential Council since 5 February 2021 and assumed office on 10 March 2021. The Presidential Council is the collective head of state of Libya under the Government of National Unity (GNU), the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli. Libya remains effectively divided. The GNU under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah controls western Libya, while a parallel Government of National Stability backed by the House of Representatives and General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army controls the east and most of the south. Long-promised national elections, originally scheduled for 24 December 2021, have been repeatedly postponed.
The Presidential Council
The three-member Presidential Council was created by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, a UN-facilitated process that selected al-Menfi alongside Musa al-Koni and Abdullah al-Lafi as council members on 5 February 2021. Their joint ticket with Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah as prime minister narrowly defeated a rival list backed by Aguila Saleh and Fathi Bashagha, ending six years of civil-war-era split executives.
Career before politics
Al-Menfi is from Tobruk in eastern Libya. He trained as a dentist before entering the diplomatic service. He served as Libyan ambassador to Greece from 2018 until December 2019, when he was expelled by Athens following the Government of National Accord’s maritime boundary agreement with Turkey — a deal that drew a sharp Greek protest.
Governance and human-rights situation
The UN, EU, and human-rights organisations have documented serious abuses in Libya since 2011, including the operation of detention facilities for migrants and asylum seekers along the Mediterranean coast, the use of armed militias by both western and eastern factions, and impunity for war-time atrocities including those linked to the 2011 NATO-backed uprising. Freedom House classifies Libya as “Not Free”.
At a glance
| Full name | Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 March 1976, Tobruk, Libya |
| Office | President, Libyan Presidential Council (head of state) |
| In office since | 10 March 2021 |
| Government | Government of National Unity (UN-recognised, Tripoli) |
| Prime Minister | Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah |
| Rival authority | Government of National Stability (eastern Libya, backed by Haftar) |
| Human rights | Freedom House: Not Free |
Frequently asked questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
Who is the leader of Libya in 2026?
Libya has two competing executive authorities. In Tripoli, Mohamed al-Menfi serves as President of the Presidential Council (head of state) and Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah as Prime Minister of the UN-recognised Government of National Unity. In Benghazi and the east, the House of Representatives backs a separate Government of National Stability led by Osama Hammad and supported by General Khalifa Haftar.
Is Libya a dictatorship?
Libya is not currently a unified dictatorship in the sense it was under Muammar Gaddafi (1969–2011). It is a divided state with two governments, weak institutions, and powerful armed groups. Freedom House classifies the country as “Not Free” due to absence of credible elections, militia rule, and restrictions on civil liberties.
What is the Presidential Council?
The three-member Presidential Council collectively serves as Libya’s head of state. It was created by the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in February 2021 and includes al-Menfi (president), Musa al-Koni and Abdullah al-Lafi.
Who is Khalifa Haftar?
Khalifa Haftar is a Libyan general who heads the Libyan National Army and effectively controls eastern Libya from Benghazi. He has refused to recognise the Tripoli government and his forces fought a multi-year campaign against the GNU and its predecessor.
When did Gaddafi fall?
Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in October 2011 during a NATO-backed uprising that began in February of that year. Libya has been politically unstable ever since.
Has Libya held a national election since Gaddafi?
Parliamentary elections were held in 2012 and 2014, and a long-delayed presidential election was scheduled for December 2021 but has been repeatedly postponed. As of April 2026 there had been no successful national presidential vote since Gaddafi’s overthrow.
How old is Mohamed al-Menfi?
He was born on 3 March 1976, which makes him 50 in April 2026.