UN Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Abdoulaye Batelli of Senegal as his Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), succeeding Lian Kubiš of Slovakia, who previously served as Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his services to the Organization. Mr. Batelli enriches this position with over 40 years of experience working with his national government, academic institutions, regional organizations and the United Nations system. In his most recent assignment with the United Nations, he served in 2021 as an independent expert for the strategic review of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Mr. Batelli has previously served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (2013-2014), and as Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa in Gabon (2014-2016). In 2018, he was appointed Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Madagascar and in 2019 served as an independent expert for the strategic review of the United Nations Office for West Africa.  Mr. Batelli has held various ministerial positions in the Senegalese Government, including in particular the post of First Minister in the Office of the President responsible for African affairs (2012-2013), Minister of Energy and Water Resources (2000-2001) and Minister of Environment and Nature Protection (1993-1998). Having been elected to the Senegalese National Assembly In 1998, he served as Vice-President of the Assembly from 2001 to 2006. He was also elected a member of the Economic Community of the West African Parliament (2002-2006). After studying history for more than 30 years at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal, he has also lectured at many universities around the world. Mr. Batelli holds a PhD in History from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom as well as a PhD from Sheikh Anta Diop University. Mr. Batelli is fluent in English, French, Sonnenki and Wollow.