Lana Nusseibeh opposed by rights groups for UN chief

Several human rights groups on Tuesday urged countries to reject Emirati official Lana Nusseibeh for United Nations secretary-general, citing the United Arab Emirates' alleged financing of paramilitary forces in Sudan.

Nusseibeh, 48, is seeking to become the first woman and only the second Arab to lead the UN. Since her official nomination last week, she has received backing from Gulf states but has also faced scrutiny over the UAE's normalisation with Israel and Abu Dhabi's alleged role in Sudan's war.

Sudan has been at war since 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The UAE is accused of funding the RSF, an accusation it denies.

Ken Roth, head of Human Rights Watch, said Nusseibeh was “utterly inappropriate” as a candidate, arguing that she had denied the UAE's role in arming and supporting the RSF. Kate Ferguson, co-director of the British NGO Protection Approaches, said she had not seen sufficient evidence that Nusseibeh was independent from the UAE government.

UN secretary-general candidates are expected to be independent from their home governments. Nusseibeh has stepped down as UAE state minister at the Foreign Ministry and as envoy to the UN and EU to campaign for the post. She was the UAE's permanent representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024.

To win, a candidate needs nine of 15 Security Council votes and must avoid a veto from the United States, Britain, China, France or Russia.