Kenya has appeared to reverse its earlier public endorsement of Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh for the post of UN Secretary-General. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei stated that Nairobi is considering all candidates to determine the best fit. Kenya is following the ongoing campaigns for the position and is confident that a suitable candidate will receive support from the majority of UN members. This statement was made to clarify an earlier announcement by the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, which had welcomed Nusseibeh's candidature.
The earlier announcement by Mudavadi's office had expressed support for Nusseibeh, citing her extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and service within the UN system. This would serve the organisation well, according to Mudavadi. However, this move could have risked losing support for Justice Njoki Ndung'u, who is seeking to be a judge of the International Criminal Court. Ndung'u toured Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, which could potentially gain her votes.
The UAE has been lobbying heavily for Nusseibeh, who entered the race last week, just two months before the tenure of incumbent António Guterres expires. Nusseibeh joined a race with six contenders who have spent months lobbying for support. Former Costa Rican vice-president Rebeca Grynspan has led all five informal straw polls conducted so far. Other contenders include Ivonne A-Baki and María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana.
The male candidates in the race are Rafael Grossi of Argentina and Olara Otunnu of Uganda. Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, Argentina's Virginia Gamba, and former Senegalese president Macky Sall have since withdrawn from the race. In the latest straw poll, Otunnu received backing from just one of the Security Council's five permanent members. Many observers have called for a rotation format to be honoured and give the position to a contender from the Latin America and Caribbean region.
However, rotation is not law, but a tradition followed for most of the UN's 81-year history. It has been broken in the past, though: In 1996 Antonio Guterres won when the turn was for Eastern Europe. Countries in the Latin American and Caribbean cluster have insisted that it is their turn. But their leading candidate, Grynspan, has been unable to secure the support of all five permanent members of the Security Council.
The Council recommends a candidate for appointment by the UN General Assembly. However, a candidate must secure at least nine votes in the 15-member Council and face no opposition from any of the five permanent members. Nusseibeh, 47, could become the first woman to serve as UN Secretary-General. Her path to victory may depend less on securing the most support than on avoiding opposition from any of the Security Council's five permanent members.
As a diplomat, Nusseibeh has defended the UAE against mounting allegations that it backed Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, which have been accused of atrocities against civilians during the war with the Sudan Armed Forces. On Thursday, she pledged to serve all countries, seek common ground, and remain independent of her home government. Kenya's President William Ruto recently hosted Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs responsible for African affairs, at State House.
Key points
- Kenya reverses public endorsement of Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh
- Nusseibeh's path to victory may depend on avoiding opposition from Security Council's five permanent members
- The UN Secretary-General position has a tradition of rotation among regional groups
