Month: September 2022

USLBA Meets with Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush

Posted on by Lydia Jabs


On September 26th, 2022, the US-Libya Business Association (USLBA) met with Libya’s Foreign Minister, Najla El Mangoush, at the Libyan Embassy in Washington D.C. to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Libya. The USLBA is grateful for the opportunity to work with H.E. toward a shared goal of attracting American companies to invest in Libya.

The meeting focused on the current state of economic relations between the two countries and identified areas for growth and cooperation. The USLBA highlighted the importance of increasing foreign investment in Libya and creating a more attractive business environment for American companies.

In conclusion, the meeting between the USLBA and Foreign Minister El Mangoush was an important step toward strengthening economic ties between the United States and Libya. It highlighted the shared goal of attracting American companies to invest in Libya and the need to address challenges to create a more attractive business environment. The USLBA remains committed to promoting investment and trade opportunities between the two countries, and we look forward to continuing our work with Libyan officials toward this shared goal.

UN Appoints Abdoulaye Bathily as Special Representative of the UN for Libya

Posted on by Lydia Jabs

UN Secretary-General António Guterres today 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 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 an 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. Read more from UNSMIL.

US Diplomats Discuss Boosting American Diplomatic Presence in Libya

Posted on by Lydia Jabs

US Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf and US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland held talks in Tunis this week to discuss “prospects for boosting the U.S. diplomatic presence in Libya to promote stability, security cooperation, economic growth, and sustainable development”. “We eagerly hope that the US Embassy in Libya can permanently return to Tripoli as soon as possible to provide consular, trade promotion, educational advising, and other services,” stated the Office of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department via Twitter. “Libya’s full integration into the global economy is being hampered by actors pursuing destabilizing agendas undermining peace and national unity.” Read more from Libya Update.

US 2022 Fiscal Transparency Report: Libya

Posted on by Lydia Jabs

Internal political divisions continue to prevent the government from implementing regular budget processes, which adversely affected fiscal transparency and the country’s operations. Audit reports for large state-owned enterprises and information regarding expenditures to support executive offices were not publicly available. Libya does not yet fully use internationally accepted accounting principles. The supreme audit institution did not meet international standards of independence. It may have audited some of the government’s accounts but did not make any public reports available within a reasonable period. The government specified in law or regulation and generally appeared to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses. Basic information on natural resource extraction awards was public. Read more from the US State Department.