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[INTERNATIONAL] · United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain · 20 sources

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Lana Nusseibeh enters UN Secretary-General race for UAE

The United Arab Emirates has officially nominated Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. Nusseibeh, 48, is a senior diplomat who served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024 and currently holds the rank of Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her candidacy has garnered support from several Gulf nations, including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as the Maldives. The Maldives endorsed her nomination, noting that it is time for a woman to lead the UN. If appointed, Nusseibeh would become the first woman to hold the post.

The race follows the withdrawal of former Senegalese President Macky Sall. Other contenders in the selection process include Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi. The selection process remains complex due to ongoing disagreements among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Nusseibeh’s bid has also drawn scrutiny and criticism. Some regional actors have raised concerns regarding the UAE’s foreign policy, specifically allegations concerning the country's role in the Sudan civil war, which the UAE has denied.

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Aglaia Baltas · Lana Zaki Nouseibeh · Lana Zaki Nusseibeh · Macky Sall · Maldives · UN General Assembly · United Arab Emirates · United Arab Emirates · United Nations

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