Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL (effective 25 September 2022)

On 2 September 2022, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal as his Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).  He succeeds Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, who previously served as Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL, and to whom the Secretary-General expresses his gratitude for his service to the Organization.
 
Mr. Bathily brings to this position over 40 years of experience 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 the Independent Expert for the strategic review of UNSMIL.  

He previously served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (2013-2014), and as Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) in Gabon (2014-2016).  In 2018, he was appointed as Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Madagascar and in 2019 as Independent Expert for the strategic review of the United Nations Office for West Africa. 

Mr. Bathily held various ministerial positions in the Senegalese Government, notably as Senior Minister in the Office of the President in charge of African Affairs (2012-2013), Minister for Energy and Hydraulics (2000-2001) and Minister for the Environment and the Protection of Nature (1993-1998).  Elected to the National Assembly in 1998, he served as Vice-Speaker from 2001 to 2006. He was also elected as a Member of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament (2002-2006). 

Having taught history for more than 30 years at the Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, he also lectured in several universities around the world.  Mr. Bathily holds a Doctor of Philosophy in history from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, as well as a doctorate from the Université Cheikh Anta Diop.  Mr. Bathily is fluent in English, French, Soninke and Wolof.  

Mr. Raisedon Zenenga

Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs (Effective 16 December 2022)

On 16 December 2020, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Raisedon Zenenga of Zimbabwe as Assistant Secretary-General and Mission Coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).  This position is established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2542 (2020).

Mr. Zenenga brings with him diverse and substantial experience in supporting political processes and mediation, proven skills in managing complex peace operations, and significant experience in working with Government and other key stakeholders in conflict and post-conflict settings.  He has over 30 years of United Nations, Government and Diplomatic Service experience, 21 of which serving with the Organization in field offices including in Liberia, Iraq-Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Somalia and South Sudan.

He has served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) since 2014, and before that as Deputy Special Representative (Political) with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).  He was previously a senior manager at United Nations Headquarters for 10 years, during which he supported several United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Mr. Zenenga graduated in public administration and political science from the University of Zimbabwe and received diplomatic training from the Australian Development Assistance Bureau.  He is married and has three children.

Ms. Georgette Gagnon

Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

Ms. Georgette Gagnon of Canada, whom the Secretary-General recently appointed as Assistant Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya. She succeeds Yacoub El Hillo of Sudan, who completed his assignment on 5 January 2021. Ms. Gagnon will be based in Tripoli.

Ms. Gagnon brings to the position over twenty-five years of experience leading and implementing strategic initiatives on human rights, humanitarian action and development and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams in conflict and post-conflict countries.  Most recently, she served as Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), where she led the substantive and operational work of the Office’s 94 field presences around the world. 

From 2010 to 2015, Ms. Gagnon was the Director of Human Rights for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) based in Kabul.  Ms. Gagnon has also served as a director and senior adviser on protection of civilians, human rights and the rule of law in various duty stations with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, national governments and non-governmental organizations.

Ms. Gagnon holds an LLB from York University in Toronto, Canada, and an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.