Kubis resigns as UN Libya envoy, British Nicholas Kay might step in

The UN special envoy for Libya, Jan Kubis, a former UN envoy for Lebanon, took up the Libya post in last January, has quit just a month before the country’s first presidential elections, which his tenure pushed for, without giving security council members a clear reason for his sudden departure.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday that Kubis had tendered his resignation to the Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who accepted it with regret, adding that Guterres was “working on an appropriate replacement”.

Regarding reasons why Kubis left Libya on the brink of holding elections, Dujarric reiterated that “this is a question you’ll have to ask him.”

He said Kubis has made it clear that he is not slamming the door today, adding that the envoy would deliver a monthly update on the situation in Libya, as scheduled, on Wednesday.

The 15 members of the security council were informed of Kubis’s resignation earlier on Tuesday. Russia’s deputy envoy to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told reporters he had no indication of his reasons for leaving, and was seeking to find out more.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the United Nations is informally suggesting veteran British diplomat Nicholas Kay as a replacement, as per diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity.

The 15-member UN Security Council, operating by consensus, must approve a new appointment.

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