United Nations Calls for Unified Efforts to Solve Libya's Issues, Establish National Unity, and Achieve Peace and Stability
February 20, 2025: The new UN envoy to Libya, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, said on Thursday that she will spare no effort to establish "peace and stability" in Libya. While taking up her new role in Tripoli, she mentioned, "This will not be easy," and called for working together with all parties involved.
Born in Ghana and Hungary, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, a former parliament member and minister, was appointed last month by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as the Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Special Representative. She succeeded Senegalese diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily, who stepped down from the position in April last year.
Libya has been struggling with instability since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, which led to the overthrow of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The country is now divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar.
Tetteh stated that her goal is to move forward with a "Libya-led and Libya-owned solution" and to work in coordination with regional and international partners to preserve national unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
Presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for December 2021, were postponed indefinitely due to disputes between rival factions.
The United Nations also stated, "The UN mission will continue to tirelessly support Libyan institutions, enable the holding of inclusive national elections, and create a collective national vision to address Libya's long-standing challenges."
