Africa Intelligence: 3 countries race for UN mission leadership in Libya
Several diplomats from Algeria, Germany and Mauritania are vying to become the next UN special envoy to Libya, succeeding the Senegalese Abdoulaye Bathily, who resigned last April.
Prior to his resignation, he had warned that “there is no way the UN can work successfully in Libya due to the lack of political will, good capabilities and faith on the part of Libyan leaders.” However, his pessimism did not deter many potential successors.
The First Candidate
Among the three candidates, Christien Buck, a German diplomat, is making a second bid for this position after throwing his hat into the UN arena two years ago.
Buck served as ambassador to Tripoli between 2016 and 2018, then as director of the German Foreign Ministry for the Middle East until 2022, and since then as his country’s special envoy to Libya.
Despite Berlin’s support for him, his chances are considered slim, given the power dynamics within the UN Security Council, according to Africa Intelligence.
Slim Chance
The appointment of American Stephanie Curry in March as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs greatly reduces the likelihood of another Western diplomat becoming head of the UN Support Mission in Libya.
An Algerian Candidate
For his part, former Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra has also announced his candidacy. Lamamra served as Foreign Minister from July 2021 to March 2023 and has been the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Sudan since November.
Limited Support
Algeria, which holds a seat on the Security Council, has increased its influence within the UN, where it is represented by the active Ammar Benjama on the Gaza issue. However, Lamamra has not maintained a close relationship with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune since being dismissed by him and replaced by Ahmed Attaf.
Although Lamamra enjoys popularity within the UN and the African Union, Algeria appears hesitant to support his bid to succeed Batili, according to Africa Intelligence.
A Mauritanian Candidate
The third prominent candidate is Mohamed El Hassan Ould Lebatt, the Mauritanian law professor who currently serves as head of the office of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who does not rule out supporting him. However, Ould Lebatt lacks the support of Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and is struggling to gain backing within the UN or the African Union, according to Africa Intelligence.
Moreover, the African Union’s efforts to resolve conflicts appear weak, and regarding the Libyan issue, Ould Lebatt relies on networks surrounding Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who chairs the AU’s High-Level Committee on Libya.
Limited Powers
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has not prioritized filling the void left by Batili, while Curry serves as the interim head, yet her powers are far more limited than Batili’s during his tenure.
Source: Africa Intelligence