Following the deliberate announcement from the Israeli side about a meeting that took place between Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and her Israeli counterpart, the Libyan Government of National Unity succumbed to popular demands for the minister's dismissal pending an investigation, indicating that a committee would be formed to investigate, headed by the Minister of Justice. So, who is Najla Mangoush?
Najla Mangoush became the first Libyan woman to hold the position of Foreign Minister in her country, as part of the new transitional government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, which was granted a vote of confidence by the Parliament on March 10, 2021. In doing so, Mangoush joined a short list of female Arab foreign ministers, including: Naha bint Hamdi Walad Meknas (2009), the first female foreign minister of Mauritania and in the Arab world; Fatima Fall bint Aswenih (2015), also from Mauritania; and Sudanese Asma Mohammed Abdullah (2019).
Najla Mangoush is a law professor and a criminal lawyer, focusing her research and work on the transition from war to peace and peacebuilding, as noted in her biography published on the website of the Center for Global Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC). She obtained a Master’s degree in criminal law from Qariounis University (currently Benghazi University), followed by a Master's in Conflict and Peace Studies from Eastern Mennonite University, and a PhD in Conflict and Peace Management from George Mason University. She was awarded the prestigious Fulbright program scholarship to study for a Master’s in Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) in the United States.
In her profile, it was stated that she had worked as a local representative for the United States Institute of Peace in Libya, and she had also worked with the National Transitional Council.
Controversy
Shortly after taking office as Foreign Minister in 2021, Mangoush sparked controversy in Libya after her statements asserting that her government was insistent on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the country. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that Mangoush faced mistreatment after demanding the exit of Turkish and foreign armed forces from Libya. The newspaper mentioned that an armed militia stormed a hotel in Tripoli where the Presidential Council was meeting and expressed their anger towards the Foreign Minister.
Some of Mangoush's opponents claimed she is an ally of retired General Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the "Libyan National Army" based in the east of the country. They argued that her calls for Turkey's departure did not come with criticisms for the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya, while her supporters view her as balanced in calling for all foreign forces to leave Libyan territory.
It is noteworthy that the Libyan Presidential Council had previously suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush just days before an international conference in Paris in 2021, aimed at preparing for presidential elections in the country.
Violations
The spokesperson for the council, Najla Waheba, stated to "Panorama Libya" TV that the council opened an investigation into the "administrative violations" allegedly committed by Mangoush, without going into details. At that time, the decision issued by the Presidential Council prohibited the Foreign Minister from travel until the conclusion of the investigation, and a committee was formed to investigate under the leadership of Abdullah Al-Lafi, the council's deputy chairman, with a report to be submitted within 14 days.
At that time, the Libyan Presidential Council accused Mangoush of lacking coordination with it on foreign policy issues, amid internal political strife that followed an interview she gave to the "BBC" regarding the Lockerbie crisis dating back to 1988.
Lockerbie
Libya admitted in 2003 its responsibility for the bombing of the American plane over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. Controversy arose after the Libyan minister spoke with the BBC regarding the possible extradition of a new Libyan suspect in the bombing to the United States. Mangoush told the BBC that the Libyan government was ready to cooperate with the United States regarding the extradition decision, adding that progress was being made in this regard. She continued, "We understand the pain and sorrow felt by the victims and their families."
At that time, the Libyan government stated that the Presidential Council had no authority to suspend the minister from work or investigate her, and that Mangoush would continue her duties.
