World

Sudanese Diaspora and Human Rights Groups Criticize UAE Nominee for UN Secretary‑General

By Carlos Mureithi

Members of the Sudanese diaspora and international human rights monitors have condemned the candidacy of Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh for the United Nations secretary‑general position. They argue that Nusseibeh has repeatedly denied accusations that the United Arab Emirates is supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been accused of atrocities during the war in Sudan, including an October 2025 attack on El Fasher that the UN described as having “hallmarks of genocide.” The UAE nominated Nusseibeh last week to replace António Guterres, who is finishing his second five‑year term. Rights groups and others have long documented evidence of UAE support for the RSF. Hala al‑Karib, a Sudanese pro‑democracy and women’s rights activist and regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, said Nusseibeh has “no track record of acting independently of her country’s role in Sudan” and that a Security Council endorsement would essentially deny the genocidal acts committed in El Fasher by the RSF. The Avaaz human‑rights advocacy group held a virtual briefing on Tuesday where Ibrahim Alduma, co‑founder of Sudan Action Hub and a native of El Fasher, warned that Nusseibeh’s success would erode faith in the UN. “If this candidate succeeds, how would we tell people on the ground that the United Nations is not an obstruction of the rights of the people of Sudan?” he asked. Husam Mahjoub, co‑founder of independent media Sudan Bukra TV, said electing the UAE’s senior diplomat would hand UN leadership to a government defender at a time when Sudanese civilians need the UN to hold powerful states accountable. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, told the briefing that Nusseibeh has denied the UAE’s role in arming and supporting the RSF “without regard to the facts.” On Wednesday, Bruno Stagno Ugarte, chief advocacy officer at Human Rights Watch, said Nusseibeh’s dismissal of UN reports documenting the UAE’s links to the RSF had “seriously undermined justice and accountability for the victims.” In a statement on Tuesday, Nusseibeh said that if she were appointed she would support UN fact‑finding missions for accountability and transitional justice over the war in Sudan, described the RSF’s crimes as “atrocious,” and noted she had taken a leave of absence from her ministerial post in the UAE government to be mindful of the obligations of independence. She added that the “horrific conflict in Sudan will be the litmus test of the success of an incoming secretary general.” To become the next UN secretary‑general, a candidate must secure at least nine affirmative votes from the 15 Security Council members and avoid a veto from the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France or Russia. An informal Security Council poll earlier this month had placed former Costa Rican vice‑president Rebeca Grynspan as the narrow frontrunner, but she and all other candidates received two or more opposing votes from the permanent members. The next straw poll could take place as soon as Friday, though the format and exact timing are still being negotiated by diplomats. Additional reporting by Kaamil Ahmed.