In a move aimed at reviving the stalled peace process in Libya, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has nominated Ghanaian diplomat Hanna Tetteh to be his envoy to Libya and head of the United Nations Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL).
Tetteh has a rich and diverse background in politics and diplomacy, with experience at both national and international levels. So, who is Hanna Tetteh?
- From Law to International Politics:
Born in 1967 in Hungary to a Ghanaian father and a Hungarian mother, Tetteh completed her secondary education at Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast, Ghana, between 1978 and 1985. She then attended the University of Ghana, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B). Subsequently, she attended the Ghana School of Law then she was called to the bar in 1992.
She began her career as a legal officer with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) from 1992 to 1993.
Tetteh worked at the law firm “Ansa-Asare & CO” before joining “Ghana Agro Food” (GAFCO) as a legal advisor. She held various positions there, including Human Resources Manager and Deputy General Manager, before transitioning to a political career through her election to Parliament in 2000.
Tetteh held important ministerial positions in the governments of Presidents John Atta Mills and John Mahama, serving as Minister of Trade and Industry (2009-2013) and then Minister of Foreign Affairs (2013-2017), representing Ghana in international forums. She was also a member of the National Security Council and the Armed Forces Council.
- Tetteh’s Ties with Israel: Questions Arise
Questions are being raised about Hanna Tetteh’s relationship with Israel as she is being considered for the role of UN Envoy to Libya. These concerns stem particularly from her 2016 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when she served as Ghana’s Foreign Minister.
Netanyahu praised Tetteh’s role in “expanding relations” between Ghana and Israel and expressed hope that “his meeting with her would influence a change in the voting of African countries at the UN in favor of Israel.
Ghana took a controversial stance during the 2023 Israeli war on Gaza. It did not condemn Israeli military operations but rather supported “Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Observers believe that Ghana consistently seeks to curry favor with Israel, raising questions about Tetteh’s position on the Palestinian issue and how this might affect her role as a UN envoy to Libya.
- Hanna Tetteh: A Distinguished Career Within the UN
Hanna Tetteh, Guterres’ nominee to lead the UN mission in Libya, has a career that extends beyond politics and diplomacy in Ghana to include key roles within the United Nations.
International Positions:
Tetteh has held senior positions at the UN, including:
* Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) (2018)
* Special Representative of the United Nations to the African Union
* Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa
She has played a prominent role in resolving regional conflicts in Africa and has led numerous initiatives in the areas of peace, security, and sustainable development and has gained extensive experience in dealing with complex political crises through her involvement in conflict resolution efforts in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
Guterres believes that Tetteh has the necessary qualifications to lead the UN mission in Libya, given her legal, political, and diplomatic background, her experience in African affairs and conflict resolution, and her ability to build trust and foster dialogue in disputes.
- Reactions to Tetteh’s Nomination
Hanna Tetteh’s nomination as the UN envoy to Libya has been met with mixed reactions, ranging from welcoming her international experience and neutrality to expressing reservations due to previous experiences with envoys from African backgrounds.
Russia expressed concerns over the process of Tetteh’s nomination. Its representative to the Security Council, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that “the appointment was made without prior consultation with the members of the Council and that the selection process lacks transparency.” He called for postponing the decision until a complete list of all candidates is presented clarifying the reasons for their selection and exclusion.
Libyan political analyst Salem Abu Khazam confirmed the existence of a “sharp division” within the Security Council between the United States and Russia regarding the appointment of a new UN envoy to Libya
Abu Khazam predicted that US President Donald Trump would intervene to resolve the situation, especially in light of his tendency towards easing tensions with Russia. He also believes that Tetteh represents a “compromise solution” between international powers, regardless of her capabilities, noting that she will be a deputy to the head of the mission, not the head, and will not have full authority.
- Libyan Fears of Repeating the “African Envoy” Scenario
The nomination of Hanna Tetteh has raised concerns about a repeat of the scenario with the previous envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who failed to achieve any significant progress in the Libyan file.
Libyan political analyst Dr. Khaled Al-Hijazi emphasized that the UN’s envoy appointment requires the approval of the Security Council. He pointed out that the permanent member states have the right to veto the appointment.
Dr. Al-Hijazi told Erm News that Russia and China often object to the proposed names for the UN envoy in Libya. Approval usually depends on broad international consensus to ensure support for the envoy in their mission.
He indicated that Libya faces sharp political divisions and internal conflicts, making the task of any UN envoy to Libya very difficult.
Mohammed Al-Sallak, former spokesperson for the President of the Presidential Council, believes that Tetteh’s nomination is “unfortunate,” referring to the “failure” of Bathily’s experience, who “was unable to understand the nature of the Libyan situation and its complexities.”
Al-Sallak fears that the transition from Dakar to Accra will be a mere “replication of Bathily’s failed experience,” bringing the Libyan file back to “square one. He also assures that Tetteh will face “major challenges” in Libya, including:
* Achieving progress in the political process
* Unifying institutions
* Supporting the holding of elections
After successive disappointments from the UN mission.