Geir Pedersen announces his resignation from the position of UN envoy to Syria after years of mediation

Reports confirmed on Thursday that Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy to Syria, has submitted his resignation from his position after nearly seven years in the role, in a move that reflects the stagnation of the Syrian political process under the umbrella of the United Nations.

Pedersen was born on September 28, 1955, in the Norwegian capital Oslo, and obtained a higher degree in philosophy. He began his diplomatic career in 1985 and participated in the Oslo negotiations between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in 1993, before taking on senior positions in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then moving to UN work in 2003.

Pedersen held several positions in the United Nations, including:

- Special envoy to southern Lebanon  

- UN special coordinator in Lebanon  

- Director of the Asia and Pacific Division in the Department of Political Affairs  

- Permanent representative of Norway to the United Nations in New York  

- Ambassador of Norway in Beijing

On October 31, 2018, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed him as the special envoy to Syria, succeeding Stefan de Mistura, where he led efforts to implement UN resolution 2254 and the Geneva statement, but faced significant challenges in pushing the Syrian parties toward a comprehensive political settlement.

Pedersen's resignation opens the door for the appointment of a new figure who may revive the stalled political process amid rapid regional and international changes.