Key facts
- Human rights monitors criticized Lana Nusseibeh's bid for UN chief.
- Critics cite her role in championing UAE foreign policy and denying its role in Sudan's conflict.
- A UN fact-finding mission stated foreign weapons are helping sustain Sudan's conflict.
- Nusseibeh has served as UAE ambassador to the UN for over a decade.
Human rights monitors on Tuesday criticized senior UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh's candidacy to be the next UN chief, citing her role in championing the country's foreign policy and denying the UAE's role in fuelling the conflict in Sudan. Pushback against the prominent Middle Eastern candidate has gathered steam since her late entry last week, upending the race to replace UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, stated that Nusseibeh's denial of the UAE's role in arming and supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan was not befitting a UN Secretary-General. A UN fact-finding mission last month said foreign weapons, including from the UAE, are helping sustain Sudan's conflict. Nusseibeh, who has served as UAE ambassador to the UN for over a decade, stated she would focus on Sudan's humanitarian crisis and seek a ceasefire.