The US Special Envoy for Libya, Richard Norland is set to hold talks with his French, Italian, and German counterparts in Washington on 13 January. This is to discuss the latest developments in the Libyan political arena, according to the Africa Intelligence website.
Abdoulaye Bathily, the Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), is also expected to attend the talks. In addition to Egyptian and Emirati officials.
The website revealed that Washington is pressing to secure diplomat, Kenneth Gluck, as Deputy Head of UNSMIL. This is to replace Raiseidon Zeninga, who will leave in January.
Gluck held the second position in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central Africa Republic, from 2017-2019.
He also worked in the UN mission in Yemen, and worked with Doctors Without Borders in Somalia and Sudan, according to Africa Intelligence.
The position of Deputy Head of UNSMIL has become, in recent years, a strategic position for Washington, to monitor the Libyan file, the website pointed out.
This was previously held by US diplomat, Stephanie Williams. After which she became acting head of mission, and then the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General in Libya.
Last week, UNSMIL denied that Bathily plans to announce a new roadmap, including a new government, formed by the Libyan Presidential Council and approved by the Parliament.
It stressed that any roadmap should be designed through inclusive dialogue among Libyan stakeholders, acting in full respect of the rights, interests, and aspirations of all Libyan people to be governed by legitimate leadership and institutions.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammer Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.
