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Former United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign minister Lana Nusseibeh has announced her intention to run for the position of United Nations Secretary‑General. Her candidacy has drawn criticism from human‑rights organisations and several governments, who point to allegations that the UAE has supported the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. A confidential report submitted to the UN Security Council last week details the UAE’s alleged involvement in the Sudanese war. According to the report, the UAE has provided training, weapons, drones and logistical support to the RSF, a paramilitary group that has been accused of war crimes, including sexual violence and the killing of civilians. The report also claims that UAE security firms have transported Colombian mercenaries to Sudan through Libya and Somalia, and that the UAE has used its influence to prevent the UN from publicly naming the country in connection with the conflict. The UN Security Council has banned the shipment of arms to Sudan, a measure that the report says the UAE has violated. The UAE has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, stating that it has not been involved in the conflict and that it has not provided any support to the RSF. Human‑rights groups, however, argue that the UAE’s denial is an attempt to whitewash its role in the war. Nusseibeh’s bid for the Secretary‑General post has been met with strong opposition. In a statement to the New York Times, she said that the Sudanese war is “a grave matter” and that she would act independently of any government influence if elected. She also suggested that if UN investigators were to pursue other countries’ involvement in the conflict, she would respond accordingly. Critics say that her statements are an attempt to deflect scrutiny from the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF. The Sudanese conflict began in 2023 after a power struggle between President Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The RSF, which was originally a militia formed in 2021, has since taken control of large parts of the country, including the capital Khartoum. The fighting has displaced millions of people and led to widespread reports of war crimes. The RSF has been accused of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and the use of child soldiers. Other countries that have been implicated in the conflict include Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran, all of which have supplied arms or training to either side. The UAE’s alleged support for the RSF is said to be part of a broader strategy to expand its influence in the region, including investments in Sudan’s infrastructure and the construction of a port on the Red Sea. The UN has launched an investigation into the UAE’s alleged involvement, and the Security Council is reportedly reviewing the confidential report. Human‑rights organisations have called for a full, independent inquiry into the UAE’s role in the Sudanese war and for the removal of Nusseibeh from the Secretary‑General race. Article source: Vísir | Image credit: Vísir
Former United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign minister Lana Nusseibeh has announced her intention to run for the position of United Nations Secretary‑General. Her candidacy has drawn criticism from human‑rights organisations and several governments, who point to allegations that the UAE has supported the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. A confidential report submitted to the UN Security Council last week details the UAE’s alleged involvement in the Sudanese war. According to the report, the UAE has provided training, weapons, drones and logistical support to the RSF, a paramilitary group that has been accused of war crimes, including sexual violence and the killing of civilians. The report also claims that UAE security firms have transported Colombian mercenaries to Sudan through Libya and Somalia, and that the UAE has used its influence to prevent the UN from publicly naming the country in connection with the conflict. The UN Security Council has banned the shipment of arms to Sudan, a measure that the report says the UAE has violated. The UAE has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, stating that it has not been involved in the conflict and that it has not provided any support to the RSF. Human‑rights groups, however, argue that the UAE’s denial is an attempt to whitewash its role in the war. Nusseibeh’s bid for the Secretary‑General post has been met with strong opposition. In a statement to the New York Times, she said that the Sudanese war is “a grave matter” and that she would act independently of any government influence if elected. She also suggested that if UN investigators were to pursue other countries’ involvement in the conflict, she would respond accordingly. Critics say that her statements are an attempt to deflect scrutiny from the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF. The Sudanese conflict began in 2023 after a power struggle between President Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The RSF, which was originally a militia formed in 2021, has since taken control of large parts of the country, including the capital Khartoum. The fighting has displaced millions of people and led to widespread reports of war crimes. The RSF has been accused of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and the use of child soldiers. Other countries that have been implicated in the conflict include Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran, all of which have supplied arms or training to either side. The UAE’s alleged support for the RSF is said to be part of a broader strategy to expand its influence in the region, including investments in Sudan’s infrastructure and the construction of a port on the Red Sea. The UN has launched an investigation into the UAE’s alleged involvement, and the Security Council is reportedly reviewing the confidential report. Human‑rights organisations have called for a full, independent inquiry into the UAE’s role in the Sudanese war and for the removal of Nusseibeh from the Secretary‑General race.
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