Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Turkmen Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov hosted a luncheon in Marriott Hotel last week, to bid farewell to South African High Commissioner Mpendulo Jele, and Libyan Charge D’affaires Nizar A. Nabiya.

Although the diplomatic corps farewell events for their colleagues are held mid-day, and are quite business-like, they are usually well attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, other senior diplomats and United Nations representatives. The farewell for the two outgoing African envoys was a particularly friendly event.

In informal conversations at the luncheon, it was remarked that South African envoy will return to a country whose thriving economy is in the lead on the African continent, yet it also faces social, political and economic challenges in creating more equal opportunities for all its citizens.

Libya on its side has yet to find a solid new development path, especially in regards to security issues, after the NATO-led military intervention and the overthrow of Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

However, Mr Nabiya also drew attention to positive aspects and the potential for expansion in trade and business cooperation between Libya and Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2019