List of heads of state of Libya

This is a list of heads of state of Libya since independence in 1951.

Head of State of Libya
Flag of Libya
Incumbent Mohamed al-Menfi as Chairman of the Presidential Council since 15 March 2021
Inaugural holder	Idris I as King of Libya
Formation	24 December 1951
Website	www.gnc.gov.ly (in Arabic)

Heads of state of Libya (1951–present)

Kingdom of Libya (1951–1969)
No.		Name	Portrait	Lifespan	Reign			Dynasty
					Reign start	Reign end	Duration
King of Libya
1		Idris I		1889–1983	24 December 1951	1 September 1969	17 years, 251 days	Senussi
					The first and only King of Libya. Deposed in the 1969 coup d'état.
Libya under Gaddafi (1969–2011) Libyan Arab Republic (1969–1977)
No.		Name	Portrait	Lifespan	Term of office			Political party
					Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
	2	Muammar Gaddafi		1942–2011	1 September 1969	2 March 1977	7 years, 182 days	Military / Arab Socialist Union
					Gaddafi dissolved the Revolutionary Command Council on 2 March 1977, after the General People's Congress adopted the Declaration on the Establishment of the Authority of the People.
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1977–2011)
Secretaries-General of the General People's Congress
	(2)	Muammar Gaddafi		1942–2011	2 March 1977	2 March 1979	2 years	Military / Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Gaddafi renounced all government functions on 2 March 1979. However, as leader of the revolution (officially "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution"), he retained ultimate control over Libya until he was deposed and killed during the 2011 Civil War.
	3	Abdul Ati al-Obeidi		born 1939	2 March 1979	7 January 1981	1 year, 311 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Previously served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 1977 to 1979.
	4	Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab		born 1940	7 January 1981	15 February 1984	3 years, 39 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Afterwards served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 1984 to 1986.
	5	Mifta al-Usta Umar		1935–2010	15 February 1984	7 October 1990	6 years, 234 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Served at the time of the 1986 United States bombing (Operation El Dorado Canyon).
	6	Abdul Razzaq as-Sawsa		1933–2016	7 October 1990	18 January 1992	1 year, 103 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
	7	Muhammad az-Zanati		born 1944	18 January 1992	3 March 2008	16 years, 45 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
	8	Miftah Muhammed K'eba		born 1947	3 March 2008	5 March 2009	1 year, 2 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
	9	Imbarek Shamekh		born 1952	5 March 2009	26 January 2010	327 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Previously served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 2000 to 2003.
	10	Mohamed Abu al-Qasim al-Zwai		born 1952	26 January 2010	23 August 2011	1 year, 209 days	Independent (Islamic socialist)
					Served at the time of the First Civil War and the concurrent foreign military intervention. Deposed during the Battle of Tripoli.
Transitional period (2011–present)
Chairman of the National Transitional Council
	11	Mustafa Abdul Jalil		born 1952	5 March 2011	8 August 2012	1 year, 156 days	Independent
					In rebellion to 23 August 2011, based in Benghazi during this period.
Presidents of the General National Congress
	—	Mohammed Ali Salim Acting President		born 1935	8 August 2012	9 August 2012	1 day	Independent
					Symbolic head of state for the handover of power from the NTC.
	12	Mohammed Magariaf		born 1940	9 August 2012	28 May 2013	292 days	National Front Party
					Resigned to comply with the Political Isolation Law passed by the GNC on 14 May 2013.
	—	Giuma Ahmed Atigha Acting President		born 1950	28 May 2013	25 June 2013	28 days	Independent
	13	Nouri Abusahmain		born 1956	25 June 2013	5 April 2016	2 years, 285 days	Independent
					In rebellion, based in Tripoli. Internationally recognized until 4 August 2014.
Following the 2014 legislative election, the government was split between the newly-elected House of Representatives and the outgoing General National Congress, resulting in the ongoing civil war. The 2014 legislative elections were declared invalid by the Libyan Supreme Court in November 2014.
Presidents of the House of Representatives
	—	Abu Bakr Baira Acting President		born 1941	4 August 2014	5 August 2014	1 day	Independent
					Symbolic head of state for the handover of power from the GNC.
	14	Aguila Saleh Issa		born 1944	5 August 2014	15 March 2021	6 years, 222 days	Independent
					In rebellion, based in Tobruk. Internationally recognized until 12 March 2016.
Following the inauguration of the Presidential Council and the Government of National Accord, the government remained split between the House of Representatives and the National Salvation Government, recreated after the 2016 coup d'état attempt. Afterwards, the High Council of the Revolution was created as well. However, the High Council of State, based in Tripoli, recognized the GNA.
Chairmen of the Presidential Council
	15	Fayez al-Sarraj		born 1960	30 March 2016	15 March 2021	4 years, 350 days	Independent
					Internationally recognized, based in Tripoli. Simultaneously served as Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord.
	16	Mohamed al-Menfi		born 1976	15 March 2021	Incumbent	3 years, 166 days	Independent
					Internationally recognized, based in Tripoli.

Affiliations

ASU	Arab Socialist Union
	Nasserist, centrist, government party, only legal party 1971-1977
Mil	Military
NFP	National Front Party
	Centrist; successor political organization (2012–present) to the diaspora National Front for the Salvation of Libya (in exile 1981–2011)
n-p	non-partisan

References

• World Statesmen – Libya