In June 2017 United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Ghassan Salamé of Lebanon as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Mr Salamé has succeeded Martin Kobler of Germany.

In 2003 Mr Salame served as the Political Advisor to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), where he played a crucial role in bringing together Iraqi factions and was then appointed as Senior Advisor to the Secretary-General (2003-2007, 2012).