UN Envoy Says Syria at Risk of Sliding toward Libya Scenario

UN envoy Geir Pedersen warned that Syria stands on a “knife-edge,” cautioning that the country could fragment like Libya unless Ahmed al-Sharaa proves his rule marks a new beginning rather than another autocracy.

Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, told the Financial Times that Syria “risks turning into Libya” if promised reforms fail to materialize.

Pedersen said "President" Ahmed al-Sharaa “needs to do what I call a course correction.” He urged the "leader" to convince Syrians that the post-Assad era represents “a new beginning,” not “a new autocratic regime.”