UAE nominates diplomat to lead UN amid criticism over Sudan and Israel policy

The UAE has formally nominated Lana Nusseibeh to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general. The appointment matters because the secretary-general leads the UN's international diplomacy and administration. If chosen, Nusseibeh would be the first woman and only the second Arab secretary-general.

Her nomination is controversial because critics connect her government to two major conflicts. UN sanctions monitors have called allegations of UAE military support for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces credible, while the UAE denies them. UN experts and rights groups have accused the RSF of genocide and other crimes in Darfur.

Nusseibeh also served as the UAE's ambassador to the UN during the country's close relationship with Israel after the 2020 normalisation agreements. Her entry has disrupted expectations that Latin America and the Caribbean would receive the post. The Security Council still has to agree on a candidate before the General Assembly votes.

The UN secretary-general is the United Nations' highest-ranking official. The position involves representing the organisation, directing its administration, raising alarms about conflicts, and helping countries negotiate. It matters because the secretary-general can shape international attention and coordinate the UN's response to crises.

The office works through diplomacy rather than direct command. A secretary-general can use public statements, private negotiations, reports, and mediation to encourage action. The person also oversees the UN Secretariat and supports operations authorised by member states. The article does not provide a detailed description of these powers, so these responsibilities come from established UN practice.

The secretary-general cannot independently impose sanctions, deploy peacekeepers, or overrule governments. The Security Council and General Assembly retain key decision-making powers. In this appointment, the Council must first agree on a candidate, and the 193-member General Assembly must then approve that choice. Guterres's term ends on 31 December.

Approval involves the UN's 193-member General Assembly and the 15-member Security Council. The Council must first agree on a candidate. The General Assembly then approves that recommendation. This two-stage process gives both the wider membership and the Council a role.

The five permanent Council members have veto power: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. A candidate needs their backing because a negative vote from any one of them can block the Council's recommendation. The article describes straw polls that separate these permanent members from the ten elected members.

No candidate had secured support from all five permanent members after six informal polls. Rebeca Grynspan led most rounds, but permanent members gave her two discouragement votes in the first colour-coded poll. Nusseibeh's late entry added uncertainty. A seventh poll was postponed to allow time for her nomination.

If a candidate from the UAE became secretary-general, allegations about Abu Dhabi's support for the RSF could make the UN's Sudan work harder to trust. The secretary-general must speak about conflicts and help coordinate international action. Perceived links to one side could weaken confidence in that role.

The concern is especially serious because UN sanctions monitors described allegations of UAE military support for the RSF as credible. The UAE denies them. UN experts and rights groups have concluded that the RSF committed genocide and other international crimes against non-Arab communities in Darfur. Those facts could lead governments and victims' groups to scrutinise the secretary-general's statements and decisions.

Possible effects include reduced cooperation, sharper accusations of bias, and more difficulty presenting UN investigations as independent. The article does not establish that these consequences would occur. It does show that the controversy could complicate Nusseibeh's campaign and the UN's work on Sudan.

The secretary-general must work across conflicts involving powerful states, armed groups, and civilian victims. That requires credibility with governments and international audiences. The UAE's foreign-policy record matters because it could shape how Nusseibeh's neutrality is judged before she even takes office.

The article identifies two sources of criticism. First, the UAE has close ties with Israel after the 2020 normalisation agreements. Second, UN sanctions monitors described allegations of UAE military support for Sudan's RSF as credible, although Abu Dhabi denies them. UN experts and rights groups have accused the RSF of genocide and other crimes in Darfur.

These issues could affect debate over Nusseibeh's suitability, especially when the UN addresses Gaza, Israel, or Sudan. Supporters may point to her diplomatic experience, including service as ambassador to the UN and two terms as Security Council president. The Council's unsettled polls show that these questions may influence a highly competitive selection.

The selection begins with candidates engaging in General Assembly dialogues. The Security Council then conducts informal straw polls to test support. After those consultations, the Council must agree on one candidate. The General Assembly, representing 193 countries, must approve the Council's choice. This process balances broad membership with Council authority.

The five permanent members are the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. Each has veto power. In practice, a candidate cannot proceed if one of these states refuses to support the required Council recommendation. The article's colour-coded poll separated their votes from those of the ten elected Council members, making their influence visible.

Six polls had produced no candidate acceptable to all five permanent members. Rebeca Grynspan led most rounds, but received two discouragements from permanent members in the first colour-coded poll. Nusseibeh's nomination unsettled the race. A seventh poll was postponed while her candidacy was introduced.

Under international law, genocide means certain acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Acts can include killing members, causing serious physical or mental harm, or creating conditions meant to destroy the group. The special intent is what makes genocide distinct.

War crimes are serious violations committed during armed conflict, such as intentionally attacking civilians or mistreating prisoners. Crimes against humanity are widespread or systematic attacks against civilians, including murder, deportation, persecution, or torture. Neither category necessarily requires an intent to destroy a protected group. Some conduct can fit more than one category.

The article states that UN experts and rights groups concluded the RSF committed genocide and other international crimes against non-Arab communities in Darfur. It does not provide the evidence or legal findings behind those conclusions. The distinction matters because the genocide label carries a specific legal meaning and raises severe obligations and scrutiny.