Updated

The U.N. chief has nominated a new special envoy to Yemen, who will be tasked with guiding talks meant to end the violent chaos in the Arab world's poorest country.

A U.N. diplomat confirms that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has nominated Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the current U.N. Ebola chief, in a letter to the Security Council president.

The council now has 48 hours to consider the nomination, which it must approve.

As pressure builds on the world body to help find peace in Yemen, previous U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar last week announced that he would step down.

Benomar had faced sharp criticism from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, which has led a regional coalition conducting airstrikes on Shiite rebels in Yemen.