United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana as his Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

She succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who served as Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL until May 2024.

The Secretary-General expressed gratitude for Bathily’s leadership and also acknowledged Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative, who led the mission in the interim as Officer-in-Charge.

Ms. Tetteh brings a wealth of experience from national, regional, and international roles.

Prior to this appointment, she served as:

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (2022-2024) Special Representative to the African Union & Head of the UN Office to the African Union (2018-2020) Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi

Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Tetteh was a key figure in Ghana’s government, serving as:

Minister for Foreign Affairs (2013-2017), where she was also Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Mediation and Security Council (2014-2015) Minister for Trade and Industry (2009-2013), during which she was a member of Ghana’s Economic Management Team and Chairperson of the Ghana Free Zones Board Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya Constituency (2000-2005) and Awutu Senya West Constituency (2013-2017) Co-Facilitator in the High-Level Forum for the Revitalisation of the South Sudan Peace Agreement

Ms. Tetteh holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon, and was called to the Bar in 1992 after completing her postgraduate studies at the Ghana School of Law.

She is fluent in English, Hungarian, and Fante.

Her appointment reflects the UN’s commitment to promoting stability in Libya, leveraging her diplomatic expertise and leadership experience to drive peace and governance efforts in the region.