Ten days after the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salam’s abrupt resignation from his post, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced his former deputy, Stephanie Williams as acting special representative and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and that she would take over until he appoints Salama’s replacement.
This announcement came after leaks that Guterres is appointing former Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtan Lamamra as envoy to Libya, pending the convening of the UN Security Council in the coming days to confirm his appointment.
But what are the implications of the appointment of Williams at this time? Will she remain in her temporary position, or will she return as a deputy to the new envoy?
Prevention of wasting time
Political analyst Abdulmajeed Alaawaiti considered that appointing Stephanie Williams would be a barrier to wasting the political timing that will arise during the period of search and consensus to name a new character to succeed Salama.
Alaawaiti said in a statement to Arraed that there are news that Guterres proposed Ramtan Lamamra, the Algerian , an international envoy to Libya, indicating that there is an objection to the appointment of Lamamra to this post.
Alaawaiti added that the political timing in which France started interfering and trying to play an alternative role for the mission, in the last Elysee statement in which it detailed the distribution of the state’s general budget and suggested distributing it away from the authority of the central bank in a miserable attempt to support its favorite ally Hifter.
Alaawaiti confirmed that Stephanie must continue the mission’s activity for fear that it will be filled by other parties.
Security Council dispute
For his part, the Libyan writer Salah Alshilwi disclosed that this indicates that there is a dispute over who succeeds the former UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salameh, among the members of the Security Council.
Alshilwi said in a statement to Arraed that this reflects the severity of the dispute between them over the Libyan file, answering on the possibility of Williams to gather the Libyan parties he answered that there is no major problem in the gathering of Libyans.
Disagreement
As for his part, the journalist and Writer Abdullah Al-Kabeer emphasized that the failure of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres to appoint a new envoy to Libya, so far is nothing but the major powers’ disagreement for an alternative until this moment.
Al-Kabeer said in a statement to Arraed, that the assignment of Williams is only temporary according to the United Nations regulations and she will proceed in the paths of Salama plan and is qualified to play a prominent role in advancing the negotiations due to the experience it has in working with Salama.
Agreement Difficulty
Political analyst Faraj Farkash said that the appointment of Stephanie Williams Is a result of her close awareness of the Ghassan Salama plan and is expected to continue due to the difficulty in agreeing on an alternative.
In a statement to Arraed, Farkash added that Williams is aware of the crisis map in Libya, but she may lack charisma and is known for her calm, but she can compensate for that if she guarantees the support of American officials.
Farkash stressed that the crisis lies with the Libyans themselves and Williams will not succeed unless the people realize that they are the root of the problem and make concessions to each other and reject their differences away from external dictating, according to him.
A broader American role
Political analyst Alaa Farouq said that the appointment of Williams temporarly in place of Salama may allow US diplomacy to lead the UN mission with a broader and more interested American role in the Libyan file.
Farouq added in a statement to Arraed, that Williams has a long experience in the Libyan file in particular, and the step allows more negotiations and expansion of its circle, especially as she is close to the Libyan West and the city of Misurata in particular.
And Farouq said that the most important thing is to learn from the mistakes of the previous envoys who preceded her , and that she should be more clear about her analyses of the Libyan crisis and puts everyone before their responsibilities.
