MOHAMMED YOUSEF EL-MAGARIAF

Mohammed Yousef el-Magariaf, born in 1940, is a distinguished Libyan political figure who has dedicated much of his life to advocating for democracy and reform in Libya. A resident of Benghazi, el-Magariaf initially pursued an academic foundation in Economics at the University of Benghazi. By the early 1970s, he held a critical position as head of the board of auditors at the Libyan Revenue Court. Known for his resolute anti-corruption stance, he soon found himself at odds with Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, which responded by appointing him Libya's Ambassador to India in 1977. In 1980, when summoned back to Libya, el-Magariaf, anticipating a dangerous purge, defected while in Morocco and began a decades-long life in exile. Despite enduring multiple assassination attempts, his resolve for political reform in Libya remained steadfast.

In 1981, el-Magariaf became a prominent member of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), a movement advocating for democratic reforms. The NFSL, widely considered the first organized opposition group against Gaddafi, envisioned a Libya governed by a constitution, multi-party democracy, and respect for human rights. Under his leadership, the NFSL embraced a comprehensive democratic agenda, drawing on global democratic lessons and seeking equality and justice for all Libyans. In May 1984, he directed an ambitious but unsuccessful attempt to remove Gaddafi, which significantly raised the regime's hostility toward him. El-Magariaf was among the few targeted by the Gaddafi government’s bombing of UTA Flight 772, underscoring the gravity of his opposition to the dictatorship.

After the Libyan Civil War in 2011, which ended Gaddafi’s rule, el-Magariaf returned to Libya from the United States, where he had spent most of his years in exile. Embracing a new political era, he took the reins of the National Front Party, the successor to the dissolved NFSL, and won a seat in the 2012 Libyan Congressional election. That same year, el-Magariaf was elected President of the General National Congress (GNC), receiving widespread support from congress members. As president, he aimed to guide Libya’s transition toward stability and democratic governance. However, in May 2013, he resigned from his role in anticipation of the impending political isolation law, which barred former officials with past government roles under Gaddafi from holding office.

El-Magariaf’s dedication to Libya’s progress faced personal risk. In January 2013, while on a fact-finding mission in Sabha to assess security and address smuggling, he survived an armed attack on his hotel, enduring a three-hour firefight in which some of his bodyguards were injured. Despite the turmoil, he remained committed to his mission.

With a moderate pragmatist approach, el-Magariaf is regarded as a respected figure even by varied political factions, including the Muslim Brotherhood. Throughout his career, his vision has remained clear: to rebuild Libya’s economy and lay the foundation for a stable, democratic society that reflects the aspirations of the Libyan people.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Magariaf