The French intelligence site “Africa Intelligence” has reported that Mohamed al-Menfi, head of Libya’s Presidential Council, is negotiating the appointment of a new Libyan ambassador to Paris to replace Khaled Kajiji, who faces financial corruption allegations. The move aims to revive a Libyan embassy paralyzed for over a year due to internal disputes and ethical scandals.
According to the report, Kajiji was recalled to Tripoli last April for investigation into alleged “financial violations” linked to mismanagement of embassy funds, prompting al-Menfi to seek a seasoned diplomat as his successor. Tensions escalated further after a public clash erupted between Kajiji and the embassy’s financial attaché, Ahmed Mohamed, who accused the ambassador of mismanaging the embassy’s accounts. Mohamed later sparked a diplomatic scandal when he was arrested in Paris in late April on charges of drunk driving.
Meanwhile, Murad Hamaima, the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, played a role in internal investigations and regained his position in January following presidential approval. His reinstatement comes amid reported strains between Paris and Libya’s Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba.
The Libyan embassy currently operates at minimal capacity, limited to issuing visas, while Hamaima is expected to return to Paris in February ahead of al-Menfi’s planned visit to France in June 2024. The visit, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, is seen as an effort to mend bilateral relations.