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This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Libya from 1969 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current head of state of Libya, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.
Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council from the September 1969 coup, then secretary-general of the General People's Congress until 1979; he kept ultimate control as 'Brotherly Leader' until he was overthrown and killed in 2011.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress from 2 March 1979; earlier prime minister.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress from January 1981 to February 1984.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress during the 1986 US bombing of Libya.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress from October 1990 to January 1992.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress for 16 years, the longest of the Gaddafi-era holders.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress from March 2008 to March 2009.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress from March 2009 to January 2010; earlier prime minister.
Secretary-general of the General People's Congress until the fall of Tripoli in August 2011.
Chairman of the National Transitional Council, the rebel authority that replaced Gaddafi, from March 2011 to August 2012.
Acting president of the General National Congress for one day, 8–9 August 2012, during the handover from the National Transitional Council.
President of the General National Congress from 9 August 2012; he resigned on 28 May 2013 to comply with the Political Isolation Law.
Acting president of the General National Congress from 28 May to 25 June 2013.
President of the General National Congress from 25 June 2013; internationally recognised until August 2014, after which he led the rival Tripoli-based authority until 2016.
Acting president of the House of Representatives for one day, 4–5 August 2014, during the handover from the General National Congress.
President of the House of Representatives from 5 August 2014; based in Tobruk and internationally recognised until March 2016.
Chairman of the Presidential Council and prime minister of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli from March 2016 to March 2021.
Diplomat chosen as chairman of the Presidential Council at the UN-backed political dialogue in February 2021 and in office since 15 March 2021.
The current head of state of Libya is Mohamed al-Menfi, in office since 15 March 2021. Libya has had no single elected president since 2011. The head of state is the chairman of the Presidential Council, based in Tripoli, which works with the internationally recognised Government of National Unity, while a rival government backed by the House of Representatives controls the east. In June 2026 rival leaders agreed a roadmap for elections by February 2027.
The presidents and heads of state of Libya listed on this page, in order, are: Muammar Gaddafi, Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab, Mifta al-Usta Umar, Abdul Razzaq as-Sawsa, Muhammad az-Zanati, Miftah Muhammed K'eba, Imbarek Shamekh, Mohamed Abu al-Qasim al-Zwai, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Mohammed Ali Salim, Mohammed Magariaf, Giuma Ahmed Atigha, Nouri Abusahmain, Abu Bakr Baira, Aguila Saleh Issa, Fayez al-Sarraj, Mohamed al-Menfi.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Libya and Mohamed al-Menfi; Anadolu Agency (18 June 2026), UN Secretary-General readout (24 September 2026) and Qatari and Jordanian government reports confirming Mohamed al-Menfi in office through autumn 2026 (checked Nov 2026). Lists the effective heads of state since the 1969 revolution, including acting holders and the rival heads of state of 2014–2021.. Last reviewed November 2026.
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