On Saturday, the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, expressed eagerness to collaborate with Stephanie Khoury, his newly appointed United States (US) Deputy for Political Affairs.
In a Twitter post, Bathily stated, “looking forward to working together to advance Libya’s political process.”
This development comes after the UN Secretary-General appointed Khoury as the Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs. The UN Mission emphasised Khoury’s extensive experience, highlighting over three decades dedicated to political support, peace negotiations, and mediation in both conflict and post-conflict scenarios.
With more than 15 years at the UN, Khoury’s assignments have spanned across Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Her most recent role was as the Director of Political Affairs at the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
Before joining the UN, Khoury engaged in academic and NGO sectors, notably as a research fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and with organisations such as Search for Common Ground. She is a Ph.D. holder in Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas, USA, and is proficient in Arabic and English.
Khoury’s career includes key positions such as the Political Affairs Director for the UN Mission in Sudan in 2022, the Acting Head of the Integrated UN Assistance Mission in Sudan in 2021, a representative in the UN Special Adviser’s office in Sana’a, the Director for the UN Special Coordinator’s office in Beirut, and a representative for the UN Envoy to Syria.
She steps into this role following Rezidon Zeninga, the previous Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs, who held the position since December 16th, 2022. Khoury’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the UN’s efforts in facilitating dialogue and reconciliation in Libya, a country striving for unity and stability amidst its political complexities.
