The U.N. Special Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, arrived in Tripoli on Friday to formally assume his functions and lead the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
In a statement released following his arrival, the 75-year-old Senegalese diplomat said “I will lead the United Nations’ good offices and mediation efforts to reach a sustainable and peaceful Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution. I will also oversee the work of UNSMIL.”
“Over the coming days, I will first and foremost engage with all Libyan parties across the country, including civil society, women, and youth groups, to listen to their views on the political, security, and economic situations and hear their vision about the future of their country,” he added.
Bathily set his “priority” to be the identification of a “consensual pathway towards the holding of inclusive and credible national elections, which should be held as soon as possible on a solid constitutional framework.”
“Restoring the electoral process will support fostering national unity and stability and renew the legitimacy of institutions in the country,” he added.