He was born in the village of Husˤin in the Mekhlaf of Shara'b As Salam, Taiz Province on 19 August 1959.

He received his early education from his grandfather Faqih Ali Radman Mekhlafi.

[2] In 1978 Mekhlafi worked in private journalism, especially the student corner in The Republic Newspaper.

He was elected secretary-general of the group in July 1982 at age 23, a difficult period for the organization, just after the October movement failed.

In September 1993 he served as Secretary General of the organization after political parties were legalized in Yemen.