The top UN representative in Libya became an issue after UN special representative Jan Kubis, who was based in Geneva rather than Tripoli and reportedly had close ties to Moscow, resigned suddenly in November. Guterres then appointed American diplomat Stephanie Williams, who oversaw the October 2020 cease-fire agreement in Libya, as his special adviser, which did not require Security Council approval. Mediated by Williams, the October 2020 cease-fire led to the formation of a transitional government and scheduled elections for Dec. 24. Deputy Russian ambassador Anna Evstigneeva encouraged Libya's divided parties to make use of the unanimous council support to overcome disagreements. She said that with the UN mission's help they should set deadlines and carry out presidential and parliamentary elections so Libya can “open a new page in the country's life."

Source: Libya Today January 31, 2022 23:18 UTC