United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Swedish diplomat Ulrika Richardson as the new Deputy Special Representative for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). She will also serve as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.
Richardson brings more than 30 years of international experience in humanitarian relief, post-conflict recovery, development, and human rights protection. Over her career, she has held senior positions in West and Central Africa, the Caribbean, the Balkans, and Southeast Europe. Most recently, she served in a similar role in Haiti and previously worked as the UN Resident Coordinator in Kosovo.
She holds a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Gothenburg and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Lund University. Richardson is fluent in Swedish, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Her appointment comes as Libya faces political gridlock, fragile institutions, and growing humanitarian needs. She replaces Zimbabwean diplomats Raisedon Zenenga and Innocent Shumba, who had been temporarily filling the post. Secretary-General Guterres expressed gratitude for their contributions during the interim period.
In Libya, Richardson will work alongside Hanna Tetteh of Ghana, who was appointed UN Special Representative in January 2025. Together, they will lead efforts to support the political process, encourage national reconciliation, and strengthen humanitarian and development coordination with Libyan partners and international agencies.
The UN stressed that Richardson’s extensive background in conflict and post-conflict environments makes her well-suited for the challenges ahead. Her role will be central to UNSMIL’s efforts to unify institutions, prepare the ground for elections, and address the urgent needs of displaced Libyans, vulnerable communities, and migrants trapped in the country.
