United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Friday the appointment of Ghanaian diplomat Hanna Serwaa Tetteh as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Tetteh succeeds Senegalese diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily, who held the UN position until May 2024. Guterres expressed his gratitude for Bathily’s leadership of the mission, as well as for Stephanie Khoury, the Deputy Special Representative in Libya, who led UNSMIL during the transition period.
Tetteh brings decades of experience at national, regional, and international levels. She recently served as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and has held high-profile positions such as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, as well as the Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi.
Before joining the United Nations, Tetteh was a senior member of the Ghanaian government, serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017, and a member of both the National Security Council and the Armed Forces Council.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya was established in 2011 by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council, tasked with mediating and facilitating an inclusive political process, including negotiating free, fair, transparent, and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections throughout Libya.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.
