On Tuesday, the US Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland and Acting US Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, met with Hanna Serwaa Tetteh in New York to express their support for her new role as the United Nations Special Representative for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
e US reaffirmed its commitment to a Libyan-led political process aimed at achieving unity and stability.
Hanna Tetteh, a seasoned diplomat from Ghana, was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on January 24, 2025, to replace Abdoulaye Bathily, who stepped down in May 2024. Tetteh brings extensive diplomatic experience, having previously served as the UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her appointment marks the tenth time a UN official has taken charge of the Libya mission since its establishment.
The US Embassy in Libya emphasized the importance of UNSMIL’s role in facilitating political negotiations, security arrangements, and governance reforms. Washington continues to support international mediation efforts to help Libya overcome political divisions and move toward elections and national reconciliation.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) was established in 2011 after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Its main objectives include assisting Libyan authorities in peacebuilding, facilitating political dialogue, supporting human rights, and promoting economic recovery.
Since 2011, Libya has remained deeply fragmented, with competing administrations — the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) under Abdul Hamid Dbaiba and the eastern-based administration led by Osama Hammad. This division has paralyzed political progress and delayed long-awaited elections.
