UN Special envoy to Libya to leave end of June

Stephanie Williams, the U.N. Special Advisor on Libya is reportedly leaving her position at the end of this month, according to press reports.

The US diplomat would be replaced by German diplomat Christian Buck, director for the Middle East and North Africa from the German Foreign Office, news website Africa Intelligence reported.

The website noted that Buck has a great chance of getting Washington’s support to replace Williams in Tripoli. The German diplomat served as his country’s ambassador to Libya until 2018.

William was appointed last year by UN Chief Antonio Guterres as his Special Advisor on Libya. Before her appointment, she served as Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) (2020-2021), and as Deputy Special Representative (Political) of UNSMIL (2018-2020).

Egypt and Russia have campaigned for Williams’ replacement and the appointment of an African for the UN top job in the oil-rich country.