In a strategic move signalling a shift towards American diplomatic leadership in Libyan affairs, resigned UN envoy Abdullah Batilly, along with his deputy Stephanie Khoury, visited the Supreme Council of State.
This visit sets the stage for the United States to begin leading the UN mission in Libya on an acting basis.
During their visit to the council’s headquarters on Saturday evening, Batilly and Khoury met with the council’s president, Mohammed Takala, and other executive office members.
A statement released by the State Council’s media office on Facebook highlighted the discussions, which focused on the root causes of the Libyan crisis and the ongoing challenges impacting the nation.
The statement further revealed that Khoury will soon assume the role of head of the mission, where she will present her vision and proposals aimed at reaching a consensus to end the division in Libya.
This transition comes after Batilly returned to Tripoli several days ago to hand over his duties following his resignation from the leadership of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on April 16, after delivering his final briefing to the International Security Council about the situation in Libya.
Khoury, arriving in the capital from Tunisia, is set to take over the political affairs portfolio of the UN mission and manage it in an acting capacity.
Her agenda includes a series of intensive meetings with various political and military stakeholders and visits specifically to eastern and western factions, as part of efforts to revive dialogue among the crisis parties and foster conditions conducive to holding the promised elections.
