UAE's Role in Sudan's War Makes Lana Nusseibeh Unfit to Be UN Secretary General
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/nesrinemalik. "The UAE has so much blood on its hands in Sudan. For its nominee to lead the UN would be an outrage | Nesrine Malik | The Guardian." October 26, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that the UAE has helped fuel the war in Sudan, and Lana Nusseibeh has been the public face defending its actions. Making her head of the UN would reward a state implicated in atrocities and show that wealth and good branding can shield you from accountability. The author thinks her candidacy is gaining ground because of the UAE's money and polished image, not because of her record.
Conclusion
Appointing Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's nominee, as UN Secretary General would be an outrage and a moral failure, because she has been the public face of a UAE policy that fuels Sudan's war, and her candidacy only gains traction because of the UAE's wealth, image management and identity-based appeal.
Premises
- The UAE has, according to multiple investigations and reports, fuelled Sudan's war by backing the RSF militia, facilitating mercenaries, and misusing aid infrastructure to smuggle weapons, and the RSF stands accused of ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and sexual violence.
- Lana Nusseibeh has been the face of the UAE's Sudan strategy, repeatedly denying 'baseless allegations', undermining media reporting and disputing the findings of a UN panel of experts.
- Sudanese victims and refugees have directly rejected Nusseibeh and UAE aid, blaming the UAE for the killing and prolongation of the war.
- The UAE has cultivated a 'moderate' image and close financial and political ties with Western elites, and Nusseibeh's profile (Muslim woman, Western-educated, liberal credentials) makes her appear an obvious, acceptable choice regardless of the politics she represents.
- Appointing a figure associated with perpetrating Sudan's tragedy to the UN's top post would reward the perpetrator, entrench the UAE's impunity, and signal that powerful states face no accountability for atrocities.
Assumptions
- Nusseibeh bears meaningful personal responsibility for UAE policy in Sudan, not merely a representational role as a diplomat.
- The reports and investigations alleging UAE complicity in Sudan are accurate and credible.
- The UN Secretary General should be free of association with states credibly implicated in atrocities.
- Appointment to the post would materially strengthen UAE impunity and weaken accountability for Sudan.
- Her candidacy's momentum is driven largely by wealth, image and identity politics rather than merit.
- Representing a government's position as a diplomat is disqualifying when that government's conduct is condemned.