The UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, announced his resignation on Monday citing health reasons, nearly three years after taking up the post to succeed German diplomat, Martin Kobler.
“I tried to unite Libyans and restrain foreign interference, but for health reasons I can no longer continue with this level of stress and therefore I have asked the (UN) secretary-general to relieve me of my duties,” Salame tweeted. He added that he wished Libyans “peace and stability”.
His job had involved efforts to bring an end to years of turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Gaddafi, which left Libya divided between rival governments and beset by violence.
Salame’s resignation comes after many Libyans have called for his departure as he is seen as biased to one party of the conflict over the other.
Salame, a former Lebanese culture minister, was appointed UN envoy in June 2017 and has struggled to bring the two sides together for talks to end Libya’s conflict.
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