German diplomat to become UN envoy to Libya

A senior German diplomat was appointed to become the new UN special envoy for Libya, diplomats Thursday in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the UN.
Martin Kobler, who previously led UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is to succeed Bernardino Leon of Spain, the diplomats said. There was no official confirmation of the appointment of the United Nations.
The 62-year-old Kobler, who held positions of the UN in Iraq and Afghanistan, is one of the few German diplomats who have experience in top positions within the UN.
His new position puts him in charge of the UN’s efforts to bring peace to Libya, which remains in conflict four years after a revolt that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. A chaotic civil war saw the emergence of numerous militias who are still struggling for power in the oil-rich country.
The final text of the peace plan for Libya was reached two weeks ago. Negotiators have set the goal of forming a national unity government of Libya by mid-October.
European countries and the United States strongly supported the Leon efforts to negotiate an agreement between the internationally recognized government of Libya, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and a rival Islamist leaning government in the capital Tripoli.
Germany has been closely involved in the negotiations and in June managed to bring together representatives of the warring factions to talks in Berlin.
The European Union and the United States fear that chaos has allowed the extremist group Islamic State in gaining a foothold on the southern shore of the Mediterranean and added to the number of migrants fleeing to Europe by sea.
Draft versions of the agreement published by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya called for a cease-fire permanent and a national unity government.