Mauritanian Cheikh Ahmed Named as UN Yemen Envoy Replacement
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations has reportedly selected a replacement UN envoy for Yemen following the resignation of Jamal Benomar.
Diplomatic sources said Mauritania's Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed has been designated to replace Benomar, who resigned after four years of efforts at a peaceful political transition fell apart amid the Saudi-led aggression, Al Jazeera reported.
Ahmed is the current head of the UN's Ebola emergency response mission in West Africa. His appointment still has to be endorsed by the UN Security Council.
A UN statement earlier on Thursday had announced Benomar's resignation, saying he had "expressed an interest in moving on to another assignment". It said his successor would be named "in due course".
Benomar, who is from Morocco, also posted the statement on social media, including his Facebook page.
In the statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he "appreciates the tireless efforts Mr Benomar has made over the years to promote consensus and trust on a peaceful way forward in Yemen".
"Unfortunately, this process was interrupted with the dramatic escalation of violence."
