The United Nations Support Mission in Libya announced on Friday the appointment of American Stephanie Khouri as the deputy to UN envoy Abdullah Patel.
Khouri’s Background and Experience Khouri brings over 30 years of experience in supporting political operations, peace talks, and mediation in conflict and post-conflict situations, including in the Middle East region.
She has over 15 years of experience working with the United Nations in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Khouri recently served as the Director of Political Affairs in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Khouri worked as a research fellow at the University of Texas and with various non-governmental organizations, including the Search for Common Ground organization. She holds a PhD in Legal Jurisprudence and a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Texas, and she is fluent in both Arabic and English.
Khouri’s Previous Roles Khouri has held several significant positions, including Director of Political Affairs for the United Nations Mission in Sudan in 2022, Acting Head of the United Nations Integrated Assistance Mission for Transitional Period in Sudan in 2021, Representative for the Office of the Special Adviser to the United Nations in Sana’a, Director of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in Beirut, and Representative for the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria.
Khouri succeeds Resident Zeninga as Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General for Political Affairs, who held the position since December 16, 2022. About Zeninga and Patel Zeninga, from Zimbabwe, previously served as Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.
This position was established by Security Council Resolution 2542 of 2020. Senegalese diplomat Abdullah Patel has been heading the UN mission since September 25, 2022, succeeding Slovakian Jan Kubis.
Meanwhile, Canadian Georgette Gagnon serves as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, succeeding Sudanese Yacoub El Hillo, who completed his term on January 5, 2021.
