The US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, discussed with the Chairman of the African Union's (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki, the exerted efforts to appoint a new UN special representative in Libya.
According to a tweet by the US embassy, the two sides discussed the effort to identify an effective, new Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya who can continue to facilitate the progress made under UN Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams.
The US embassy added that the two sides also reviewed the important role in supporting reconciliation, security, and stability in Libya which benefits regional security for AU members as well as nations beyond Africa.
The UN Security Council is set to hold two sessions on Libya on July 25 for UNSMIL's briefing and on July 28 as well. These sessions come as the mandate of UNSMIL is closer to its end because the Security Council extended the mandate to July's end when it met last April.
The Security Council is witnessing disagreements among member states regarding the fate of the UNSMIL, and the nomination of the new special representative, as the AU insists that he/she should be from Africa.
Diplomatic sources reported recently that the UAE obstructed, during a Security Council session, a proposal by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to appoint the former Algerian Foreign Minister, Sabri Boukadoum, as the UN special representative in Libya.
