Human rights groups are opposing the bid of Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh to become the next United Nations secretary-general, citing concerns over the United Arab Emirates' alleged role in funding Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Nusseibeh, 48, is seeking to become the first woman to lead the United Nations. Her nomination has garnered the backing of Gulf states, but also faced scrutiny over her country's normalisation with Israel and Abu Dhabi's alleged role in Sudan's war.
Sudan has been engulfed in war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since 2023, with the UAE accused of funding the militants, an accusation the country denies. Human Rights Watch head Ken Roth expressed concerns over Nusseibeh's candidacy, stating that she has repeatedly denied the UAE's role in arming and supporting the RSF without regard to the facts. Roth described Nusseibeh as "utterly inappropriate" as a candidate for UN Secretary General.
Nusseibeh has taken a leave of absence from her post as a minister of the UAE to maintain her independence, adding that the conflict in Sudan will be a litmus test for the success of an incoming Secretary General. She expressed her support for the work of all UN fact-finding missions for accountability and transitional justice in Sudan, stating that the atrocities committed by the RSF are "atrocious". The UAE denies any wrongdoing in Sudan.
Kate Ferguson, co-director of the British NGO Protection Approaches, also raised concerns over Nusseibeh's candidacy, stating that there is insufficient evidence that she is independent from the UAE government. Secretary-general candidates are supposed to be independent from their home countries, given that they lead an international body. Nusseibeh is a seasoned diplomat who has served as the UAE's permanent representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024.
To win the race for UN chief, a candidate must secure nine out of 15 votes on the Security Council and avoid a veto from one of its five permanent members: the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia. Nusseibeh comes from a prominent Palestinian family of statesmen, uprooted by the creation of Israel in 1948. Her family traditionally held the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the walled Old City of Jerusalem.
The opposition to Nusseibeh's candidacy highlights the challenges faced by the UN in finding a new secretary-general. The position requires a high level of independence and impartiality, as well as the ability to navigate complex global issues. The UN is currently searching for a successor to the current secretary-general, António Guterres, whose term is set to end in 2026.
The UAE's alleged role in Sudan's war has raised concerns among human rights groups and analysts. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with thousands of civilians killed or displaced. The international community is calling for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Key points
- Human rights groups oppose Lana Nusseibeh's bid to become UN secretary general due to allegations that the UAE funds Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
- Nusseibeh's candidacy has garnered backing from Gulf states but faced scrutiny over the UAE's normalisation with Israel and alleged role in Sudan's war.
- To win the UN chief position, a candidate must secure nine out of 15 votes on the Security Council and avoid a veto from one of its five permanent members.
