The appointment of the first Libyan women in the Dbeibeh’s government

Najla el-Mangoush, Libya’s first woman foreign minister, would present her sworn in next week as part of a new unity government. In fact, she is a rare female voice and many Libyan women welcomed on Thursday her nomination.

Mangoush, who is a lawyer, had a role in the transitional council that briefly ruled Libya after its 2011 revolt, would be worked with other women in the cabinet, including Halima Abdulrahman as a justice minister.

As a testimonial, Afia Mohammed, 34, a pastry maker in Tripoli, said: I think this is a win for all of us women in Libya. I hope it’s a first step to going further: a woman reaching head of government, adding that it would inspire more women to work in the politics.

It should note that Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh’s interim government appeared via a United Nations discussions operation and is instructed to unify Libya’s separated state institutions and supervise national elections in December.

Libyan delegates, 75, designated by the UN to participate in those discussions presented a commitment for the new government to include women in 30% of senior government roles, including in top government positions. Women represent just 15% of the posts in Dbeibeh’s government, however; the proportion would increase when deputy ministers are selected.

Moreover, Elham Saudi, who is a lawyer and discussions delegate, said: It’s a stepping stone towards fuller representation. She also said the quota was a result of women in the forum being absolutely relentless on this point although having big differences on other political subjects.

When the first gathering occurred in Tunis, where Saudi stated that women delegates confronted a lot of sexist online abuse, Hanan al-Barassi, a female lawyer and critic of rights violations, was killed on a full Benghazi street.

Also, when the Libyan state deteriorated after 2011 and many warring factions controlled territory, women suffered from violence and those in official positions were nearly all men until now.

Lamees BenSaad, who is a women’s rights activist and another member of the UN discussions forum said: This will give an opportunity for other women to join the work in sovereign positions. The five ministers will be role models, adding: We have been fighting a long time for this gain.

However, Tahani Qarouq, who makes wedding delicacies in Tripoli, said that she did not agree with women running cabinet ministries or state institutions.

Nevertheless Hanan Malouda, who is selling beauty products in the market, stated that women in government would be good for Libya, adding: Hopefully they will have more compassion for us.