UAE puts diplomat Lana Nusseibeh forward as contender for UN secretary-general
The United Arab Emirates has nominated senior diplomat Lana Nusseibeh as a late candidate to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general, while the Security Council remains deadlocked and her record faces criticism.
The United Arab Emirates announced Lana Nusseibeh, a veteran diplomat and assistant minister for political affairs, as a surprise nominee to replace Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general, with the Security Council still unable to coalesce around a successor after six anonymous polls. Nusseibeh, who served as the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN until April 2024, says she would act early, bridge divides and protect aid, but her record includes defending the UAE’s involvement in Sudan’s civil war and downplaying allegations of support for the Rapid Support Forces.
She also faces questions about the Emirates’ relationship with Israel, which, despite official opposition to annexation, has deepened since the 2020 Abraham Accords. Human-rights groups and Sudanese diplomats have warned that her past statements suggest a lack of impartiality, while the UAE’s positions on Libya, Yemen, Somaliland and Western Sahara further complicate her prospects. The selection process, traditionally rotating continents, has no clear consensus, and the outcome will shape the UN’s agenda on multiple conflicts.
Why it matters
The next UN secretary-general will steer the organization’s response to global conflicts and human-rights challenges.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps portray the UAE's nomination skeptically, emphasizing human-rights concerns, though the left also highlights centrist coverage’s ties to Israel.
LEFT
Frames the nomination as controversial because of centrist coverage’s defense of the UAE’s role in Sudan’s civil war, downplaying of RSF support, and ties to Israel.
RIGHT
Frames the bid as morally questionable, stressing human-rights groups’ objections and the UAE’s alleged support for Sudan’s war effort.
The left emphasises
- defending the UAE’s involvement in Sudan’s civil war
- downplaying allegations of support for the Rapid Support Forces
- questions about the Emirates’ relationship with Israel
The right emphasises
- human-rights groups’ strong objections to her candidacy
- UAE’s participation in Sudan’s war and weapons support to the Rapid Support Forces
- undermining the moral authority needed for the UN secretary-general role
How this story developed
- Sep 29 World leaders demand UN overhaul as multilateralism faces trust crisis
- Oct 9 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States for sanctioning the International Criminal Court and labeled Nobel laureate Navi Pillay a bigot.
- Oct 9 The White House scheduled to announce the sanctions on Friday.
- Oct 10 ICC president Tomoko Akane issued a video urging member states to defend the court.
- Oct 10 The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Pillay as laureate, citing her leadership of UN‑backed inquiries into contentious legal issues.
- Oct 10 The EU announced it is preparing an Election Observation Mission for the November parliamentary election.
- Oct 10 EU urged the United States to reverse the sanctions
- Oct 11 Israeli authorities barred the Central Elections Commission from East Jerusalem and Gaza, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
- Oct 11 The UN80 Initiative announced a target of a 21 % reduction in secretariat staff.
- Oct 12 A judge permitted the lawsuit challenging the ICC sanctions to move forward.
- Oct 14 President Mahmoud Abbas decreed that the parliamentary election will be held on 11 September 2027.
- Oct 17 Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed punitive measures against the International Criminal Court.
- Oct 18 Netanyahu posted the remarks on his official X account.
- Oct 18 The United States announced an expansion of its sanctions to cover the ICC and additional individuals and organizations.
In this story
Related stories
20 in this thread