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UAE Diplomat Lana Nusseibeh Enters Race for UN Secretary-General
The United Arab Emirates has nominated diplomat Lana Nusseibeh to run for United Nations Secretary-General, aiming to break a deadlock in the selection process. The UN Security Council has held six rounds of voting without reaching a consensus on a successor to Antonio Guterres, whose term ends at the close of the year.
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What happened
- 01The UAE nominated diplomat Lana Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General to break a voting deadlock in the Security Council.
- 02Nusseibeh has received unanimous backing from all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- 03If selected, she would be the first female, first Muslim, and first Palestinian UN Secretary-General.
- 04Nusseibeh served as the UAE's ambassador to the UN for over a decade and supported the Abraham Accords.
- 05She is fluent in Hebrew and holds a master's degree in Israeli and Jewish Diaspora studies from London.
- 06Israel is closely monitoring her candidacy and expects the next UN leader to address antisemitism.
- 07Her candidacy faces challenges from regional rotation norms and allegations regarding UAE involvement in Sudan.
Nusseibeh, currently an Emirati minister of state for foreign affairs, served as the UAE's ambassador to the UN from 2013 to 2024. Her candidacy has received unanimous endorsement from the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. If selected, she would be the first woman, the first Muslim, and the first person of Palestinian descent to lead the global body.
Born in Abu Dhabi, Nusseibeh belongs to a prominent Jerusalem family and is fluent in Hebrew, having earned a master's degree in Israeli and Jewish studies in London. During her diplomatic career, she supported the Abraham Accords and advocated for engagement with Israel, though she has also criticized Israeli actions in Gaza while condemning Hamas attacks. Israel is monitoring her candidacy and expects the next UN chief to combat antisemitism.
Her nomination faces potential hurdles, including the traditional regional rotation for the post, which currently favors Latin America. Additionally, her candidacy may draw scrutiny over allegations of UAE support for forces in Sudan accused of committing atrocities, a claim that Abu Dhabi denies.
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