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UAE official Lana Nusseibeh emerges as UN chief contender

Published

Supporters of Lana Nusseibeh, a minister of state at the UAE foreign ministry, have been sounding out UN missions about her candidacy, diplomats say. UN insiders expect her to enter the race as early as this week.

Nusseibeh was the UAE's ambassador to the UN from 2013 to 2024. Diplomats say she is probably the most controversial of the possible contenders. They say she could struggle to distance herself from controversies over UAE interventions abroad.

Those controversies include the UAE's alleged backing of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. Abu Dhabi denies arming any warring faction.

Analyst Giorgio Cafiero of Gulf State Analytics said an Emirati secretary-general "could raise concerns in Riyadh". Another name in circulation is Feridun Sinirlioğlu, a former Turkish foreign minister who now heads the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Key facts

Who
Lana Nusseibeh (Minister of state at the UAE foreign ministry; UAE's UN ambassador from 2013…); Feridun Sinirlioğlu (Former Turkish foreign minister, head of the OSCE; named as a circulating…); Giorgio Cafiero (Gulf State Analytics (analyst))
What
Supporters of Lana Nusseibeh, a minister of state at the UAE foreign ministry, have been sounding out UN missions about her candidacy for the next UN secretary-general, diplomats say. UN insiders anticipate she could enter the race as early as this week.
When
21 October 2026
Where
United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Saudi Arabia
Status
Reported

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