Full Breakdown
Lana Nusseibeh’s Bid for United Nations Secretary-General: Support, Scrutiny and the Sudan Question
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh announced her candidacy to succeed Antonio Guterres as United Nations secretary-general, with the incumbent’s second term ending at the close of the year. Nusseibeh, 48, has taken leave from her role as the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the UN and is campaigning on “active, hands-on leadership” and a pledge to back cease-fire efforts in Sudan. An informal Security Council straw poll on October 16 showed that each of the seven candidates then in contention, including Nusseibeh, received negative responses from at least two of the five permanent members.
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Background & Context
Nusseibeh served as the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN from 2013 until April 2024, holding positions such as vice-president of the General Assembly and twice president of the Security Council. Her grandfather Anwar Nusseibeh was a prominent Palestinian politician and Jordanian ambassador. The UAE, an Abraham Accords partner, has been a vocal donor to Gaza relief and pursues a policy of “normalisation” with Israel.
Visual evidence
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Key Figures & Groups
- Lana Nusseibeh — UAE ambassador to the UN (2013-2024), now Minister of State, candidate for secretary-general.
- Danny Danon — Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.
- Kenneth Roth — former executive director of Human Rights Watch, criticising Nusseibeh’s candidacy.
- Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi — Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, noting unanimous GCC endorsement.
- Constantinos Kombos — Cyprus foreign affairs minister, publicly supporting Nusseibeh.
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Official Statements & Responses
Israel’s Danny Danon said Israel is “not publicly supporting any candidate” while praising Nusseibeh’s diplomatic experience and noting the strong Israel-UAE partnership. He emphasized that the secretary-general, once elected, acts independently of any nation. The United Kingdom’s foreign office declined comment, stating its priority is to select the “most qualified” individual. The Gulf Cooperation Council announced unanimous backing for the UAE’s nomination, framing it as a commitment to multilateral cooperation and UN peace-keeping. Nusseibeh pledged to give the UN “full political and practical support” to cease-fire negotiations in Sudan and to act as an “actor rather than a spectator” in global crises.
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Criticism & Opposition
Human-rights monitors, led by Kenneth Roth, have raised concerns that Nusseibeh “blatantly denies” the UAE’s alleged role in arming Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A UN fact-finding mission reported that foreign weapons and logistical networks, including entities in the UAE, are sustaining the Sudan conflict, a claim the UAE government has consistently denied.
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Alleged UAE involvement in Sudan: Human-rights monitors and the UN fact-finding mission describe credible links between the UAE and the RSF, while the UAE and Nusseibeh deny any such support.
- Voting dynamics: The October 16 straw poll revealed negative responses from at least two permanent Security Council members for every candidate, but the specific identities of those members and the reasons for their opposition remain undisclosed.
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Data & Statistics
- Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023, has displaced more than 14 million people, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
- The UAE has contributed over Dh14.2 billion (? $3.89 billion) in aid to Gaza since August 2025, funding floating hospitals and medical centres.
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What’s Next
The next Security Council straw poll could occur as early as Friday, though the exact format and timing are still being negotiated. A Reuters-hosted webinar on October 27 will feature further discussion of the Sudan allegations and their impact on Nusseibeh’s candidacy. The Security Council must reach a consensus before the end of December for the General Assembly to confirm the next secretary-general.