Najla Riachi is the only female minister in Mikati’s cabinet of 24 ministers while Hassan Diab’s cabinet from last year had 6 female members.
Riachi was born in Khenshara in 1961 and holds a degree in Political and Administrative Sciences and in History and Geography, both from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ).
Riachi, who speaks four languages: Arabic, English, French, and Italian, has taken many diplomatic positions. She was a Consultant for the Holy See and the Order of Malta from the year 1992 to 2000.
The now-minister was assigned as Lebanon’s Consul in Istanbul from 2002-2003 and was then promoted to ambassador in July 2003.
She was Office Administrator (director) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2012 until 2020 working with Gebran Bassil who headed that ministry.
She also worked as the Ceremony Manager for the same ministry from 2018 until 2020, as well as an ambassador since May 2021.
Despite her being declared independent (no political affiliation), there is speculation by parties opposing the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) that she is part of the hidden blocking third, considering her previous work with the head of the FPM, Gebran Bassil.
