Security Council extends UN mission’s mandate, to appoint new envoy in Libya

The UN Security Council on Tuesday asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special envoy to broker peace in Libya, although Russia and China abstained from voting on the resolution that also extended the U.N. mission in the country.

The Security Council agreed to that proposal on Tuesday, so that with the new structure, the UN will have to present a new candidate and will have to naturally consult with the Security Council for that purpose,” Guterres told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

The Security Council traditionally agrees – informally – by consensus to such appointments.

Russia and China said they abstained on the resolution on Tuesday because it did not include their suggested amendments.

Several months ago, the United States proposed that Guterres appoint former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt to be special envoy, but diplomats said she had since withdrawn herself.

“I’m shocked with the fact that so many spoilers, so many countries, have been interfering with the Libyan situation, building up military capacity on both sides, completely disregarding resolutions of the Security Council in relation to the arms embargo, or mercenaries.” Guterres told Reuters.