Human rights monitors have raised sharp concerns over the candidacy of senior United Arab Emirates (UAE) diplomat Lana Nusseibeh in the race to become the next United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, according to a report by Reuters.
Reuters reports that Nusseibeh, a former long-serving UAE Ambassador to the UN and current Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, entered the succession contest as a prominent late contender. While praised by fellow diplomats for her negotiating skills and managerial competence, her bid has drawn heavy pushback from human rights groups over Abu Dhabi’s foreign policy record.
Key issues fueling the backlash center on allegations involving Sudan. Reuters highlights UN sanctions monitors’ reports describing allegations of UAE military support for Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as credible, though the UAE government has consistently denied these claims. Human rights advocates cited by Reuters argue that appointing a representative of a government tied to the conflict in Sudan would undermine the UN’s core mandate of protecting civilians and upholding international law.
According to Reuters, Nusseibeh’s campaign marks a high-stakes bid to potentially become the first female UN Chief and the second from the Middle East. However, the wider race remains deeply deadlocked among the UN Security Council’s five permanent veto-wielding members as they navigate a turbulent global geopolitical landscape.
–Reuters/ChannelAfrica–
