“The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the appointment by Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, of Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily, to the post of Special Representative for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in this country”, indicates a press release from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs made public this Sunday, September 4, 2022.
“The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its full support for the new UN envoy. The Kingdom affirms its full readiness to cooperate at its side in order to contribute effectively to the efforts made so that the Libyan parties reach the necessary consensus for the holding of legislative and presidential elections, as the only way to overcome the current situation.
“The Kingdom of Morocco, which hosted the signing of the Libyan political agreement in Skhirat on December 17, 2015 and is hosting the inter-Libyan dialogue sessions in Bouznika, will continue its commitment to international efforts aimed at establishing security and stability in this brotherly Maghreb country,” the statement concludes.
Who is Abdoulaye Bathily
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Friday the appointment of Senegalese Abdoulaye Bathily as Special Representative for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in that country (UNSMIL).
The Senegalese diplomat succeeds Ján Kubiš, from Slovakia, to whom “the Secretary-General expresses his gratitude for the services he has rendered to the Organization,” the UN spokesman said in a statement.
The United Nations is trying to offer its good offices and mediation to bring the Libyan parties to resume dialogue with a view to overcoming the current political impasse.
Reacting to the recent violence that rocked Tripoli, the UN chief called for an “immediate cessation” of hostilities, calling on the parties not to use force to resolve their differences. The new UN envoy “brings to this post more than 40 years of experience with his national government, academic institutions, regional organizations and the United Nations system”, indicated the international organization.
Mr. Bathily served, in 2021, as an independent expert for the strategic review of UNSMIL. Previously, he was Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (2013-2014) and Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) in Gabon (2014-2016). In 2018, he was appointed Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Madagascar and in 2019 Independent Expert for the Strategic Review of the United Nations Office for West Africa.
Within the Senegalese government, Mr. Bathily has held various ministerial positions, including that of Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of African Affairs (2012-2013), Minister of Energy and Hydraulics (2000-2001 ) and Minister of the Environment and the Environment. Elected to the National Assembly in 1998, he was vice-president from 2001 to 2006.
After teaching history for more than 30 years at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal, he has also taught at several universities around the world.
