Our Leadership & Diplomatic Corps

H.E. Mr. Taher M. T. El-Sonni presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on January 6th, 2020.

Prior to his appointment to New York, Ambassador El-Sonni accumulated extensive strategic governance experience, serving as the Senior Political Adviser to the President of the Presidential Council of Libya’s Government of National Accord beginning in 2016. In 2015, he played a central role in national mediation as a Political Adviser to the House of Representatives and a negotiating member during the Libyan Political Dialogue. This followed his tenure in 2014 as Minister Plenipotentiary and Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for diplomatic affairs and international relations.

Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. El-Sonni dedicated 22 years to high-level diplomatic, political, and managerial roles across major multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, the European Union, and the League of Arab States. Notably, in 2012, he served as the Project Manager for a joint United Nations-European Union initiative that successfully established the Arab League’s inaugural Crisis Management Centre.

In 2011, Ambassador El-Sonni was a pivotal member of the joint assessment team responsible for planning the establishment of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), focusing on post-conflict requirements and the UN Electoral Support Team, alongside coordinating critical humanitarian and relief responses.

His deep field operation credentials include serving as Head of Operations for the United Nations Office in Gaza (2009), Senior Operations Adviser at the United Nations Regional Office for Arab States (2008), Head of the Programme Support Unit for development initiatives at the UN Bureau for Arab States (2003), and Head of the Programmes and Projects Support Unit at the United Nations Office in Libya (1998).

Ambassador El-Sonni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Tripoli, Libya, and a Master of Science from the City University of New York. Born in 1972, he is originally from Mezdah, Libya.