UN appoints Ghana’s Hanna Tetteh as special envoy to Libya
The United Nations Chief, António Guterres, last Friday, announced the appointment of Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana as the global body's new special envoy to Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), replacing Senegal's Abdoulaye Bathily, who stepped down last May.
The former foreign minister of Ghana, who more recently has been Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's special representative to the Horn of Africa, is the 10th person since 2011 to occupy the sensitive post of special envoy and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
UN Security Council
Her appointment, pending UN Security Council approval, comes at a time when Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.
As head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ms Tetteh will confront the challenge of navigating Libya’s fractured political landscape in hopes of fostering stability and peace.
The country is currently governed by two rival administrations: the UN-recognised government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, which controls the western part of the country, and the government of Osama Hammad, appointed by the Parliament, which operates out of Benghazi and governs the eastern region and parts of the south.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
Planned elections
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern, with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.
The Libyan government has reaffirmed its unwavering stance that Libyans have the sole right to resolve their divisions regardless of their nature through genuine, inclusive Libyan-led dialogue.
This process should embody a national desire for unity without accepting any foreign interference that does not serve the country’s interests.
Prime Minister Osama Hammad welcomed the appointment of the new UN Special Representative to Libya, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, expressing hope that she would carry out her duties in a manner reflecting the constructive role of the United Nations mission.
Hammad emphasised the importance of supporting Libyan-led efforts to resolve the crisis without enabling actions that undermine these initiatives.
UN Mission leaders
The government also expressed its hopes for a new and pragmatic approach under Tetteh’s leadership, calling for equal support to all parties and a departure from the policies adopted by previous UN mission leaders.
The government criticised former heads of the mission for allegedly prioritising personal interests over the integrity of the United Nations and the UN Security Council’s mission.
The Ghanaian diplomat brings to this new position decades of experience at the national, regional and international levels, including most recently as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa from 2022 until 2024, where Ms. Tetteh brought to the position decades of experience at the national, regional and international levels.
These include well-honed skills in building consensus among stakeholders, which allow her to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and countries in the Horn of Africa, as well as with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in the area of peace and security.
Brief background
Since 2019, she served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) from 2018 to 2020. However, before that, she was the Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Tetteh was a senior member of the cabinet of the Government of Ghana as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017, and a member of the National Security Council and the Armed Forces Council.
She also served as Minister for Trade and Industry from 2009 to 2013. During her tenure as Foreign Minister from 2014 to 2015, she was the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, as well as Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
During her term as Minister for Trade and Industry, she was also a member of the Government’s economic management team, a member of the board of the Millennium Development Authority, a member of the National Development Planning Commission and the Chairperson of the Ghana Free Zones Board.
Ms. Tetteh served as a Member of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Awutu Senya Constituency from 2000 to 2005. She later returned to Parliament as the NDC Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya West Constituency from 2013 to 2017.
She was subsequently appointed as Co-Facilitator in the High-Level Forum for the Revitalisation of the Agreement for the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan.
Ms. Tetteh holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon, and after her post-graduate legal studies at the Ghana School of Law, was called to the Bar in 1992. She is fluent in English, Hungarian and Fante.
EU’s commitment
Shortly after her appointment, the European Union expressed its strong support for Hanna Tetteh, and in a statement, Nicola Orlando, the Head of the EU Delegation to Libya, praised Tetteh's appointment and reiterated the EU’s commitment to the UN’s mediation efforts. Orlando emphasised the importance of fostering inclusive dialogue among Libyans to achieve a sustainable political solution.
The Arab League has also welcomed the appointment of Hanna Serwaa Tetteh as the new United Nations envoy to Libya, expressing confidence in her capabilities and expertise.
Jamal Rushdy, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stated on behalf of the organisation.
“We welcome the decision of the UN Secretary-General to appoint Tetteh as his representative in Libya and as head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The Arab League trusts her expertise in leading the mission to achieve its objectives under the mandate given by the Security Council,” he said.