Sen. Wesseh Congratulates Bathily As UNSG Rep to Libya -Describes Appointment As Recognition for Peace

MONROVIA – Senator Conmany Wesseh of River Gee County and Co-Chair of the Senate Statutory Committee on Foreign Affairs has congratulated Professor Abdoulaye Bathily as UN Secretary General Special Representative to Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), describing it as a “yet another honor, distinction and recognition that we of the forward looking and peace movement share with you”.

In the congratulatory message to the Senegalese Diplomat, Wesseh who referred to him as “my great comrade and senior brother Ablaye, said there are not many people living today more deserving of this thankless global assignment to help restore peace in Libya. “By this designation, the world has come to realize that it is yet another historical evil done to Africa by the very wrongful killing of Brother Khadafi and the ongoing destruction of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiryia”, Senator Wesseh said.

”By your appointment to this sacrificial service, the world is acknowledging that Africa must take full charge of ending the mess that was imposed on our continent in Libya. Your humongous task must be seen as a challenge to the African progressive movement and the international movement for justice and peace in Libya.

“The UNSG correctly recounted the many extraordinary things about you to which I can bear testimony.  I can add to these your faceless service that helped save my country, Liberia. I trust that God, Allah the Almighty and the Compassionate will guide, protect and lead you to success”, Senator Wesseh, who has a long history of being in the vanguard of liberation struggles on the African continent said.

Senator Wesseh’s congratulatory message is based on a press release from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday, dated September 2, 2022 appointing Professor Bathily to the exalted diplomatic post as his Special Representative to Libya and also doubles as Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).  He succeeded Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, who previously served as Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL, and to whom the Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for his service to the Organization.

According to the release from the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York, 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.