Najla al-Mangoush first became known in Libya during the February 17, 2011, revolution when she became involved in the media coverage of the unrest in Benghazi city. At the time, she was in contact with the foreign press to inform them about the developments taking place in her country.
Mangoush, a trained lawyer and professor in criminal law, was not a professional journalist, but she was eager to report about the “revolt” and delivering Libya’s voice to the world, especially after the suspension of internet services in Benghazi at the time.
Now, Mangoush, who was Libya’s first ever female foreign minister, is facing accusations of treason after she met with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Italy last week.
Mangoush, 53, was born to a cardiologist father. She is now wanted in Libya for violating the 1957 law on the boycott of Israel. Anyone found to have violated the law would face a minimum jail term of three years and a maximum of ten and a fine of no more than 5,000 dinars.
Reports said Mangoush has since fled Libya to Türkiye on board a jet belonging to the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.
Dbeibah did not await the findings of a probe and quickly dismissed Mangoush, making the announcement during a visit to the Palestinian embassy in Tripoli to express his solidarity with the “Palestinian cause”.
After studying to become a lawyer at Benghazi University (then Garyounis University), she graduated from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia and holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University.
Mangoush was appointed foreign minister in Dbeibah’s government in March 2021.
Her meeting with the Israeli foreign minister is not the first time that she had found herself in hot water. In 2021, she was suspended and referred to investigation over statements that her government was ready to turn over Lockerbie bombing suspect Abu Agila Al-Marimi to the United States. The suspect was eventually handed to the US and little has since emerged about the probe with Mangoush.
Observers said Mangoush enjoyed a positive career as a foreign minister and has forged strong ties with several countries, including the US and western nations. They remarked, however, she was only a mouthpiece of Dbeibah’s foreign policy.
In March 22, the US State Department granted Mangoush the International Women of Courage Award. Washington noted that she was Libya’s first female foreign minister and the fifth female to ever assume the post in Africa.
