Lyna Nusseibeh, a senior diplomat from the United Arab Emirates, entered the race for the position of UN Secretary-General on Wednesday, introducing a prominent candidate from the Middle East to the competition. Nusseibeh, who has represented the UAE at the UN for over a decade, emphasized that her goal is to revive the role of this institution as a diplomatic problem-solver in times of global crises.
Commitment to Multilateralism
Nusseibeh said: "It is clear today that we need a Secretary-General who can commit to the future of multilateralism and the role of the UN as a crisis solver." She made these remarks ahead of her public announcement of candidacy. Nusseibeh, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is recognized as a newcomer to this competition, while informal Security Council polls had previously indicated that Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica, was in the lead.
Challenges in the Security Council
However, Grynspan and other candidates faced opposition votes from the five permanent members of the Security Council, including the UK, China, France, Russia, and the United States last week. The Security Council is negotiating whether to hold another poll on Friday or at a later time.
Nusseibeh, 48, stated that she has been invited by several countries to introduce herself during the UN General Assembly. She has also led the successful campaign for the UAE's election to the Security Council and is recognized as a capable manager in New York. Nusseibeh emphasized: "Today we need someone who can provide generational change for the organization."
Nusseibeh's tenure at the UN coincided with the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, and she succeeded in passing Resolution 2720, which paved the way for humanitarian aid delivery. Nusseibeh stated that she secured support for this resolution by arranging visits for Security Council members to the Rafah crossing to observe the situation directly, describing this action as part of her "creative and entrepreneurial diplomacy."
As a prominent diplomat from the UAE, Nusseibeh has defended Abu Dhabi's strong foreign policy and a particular focus on countering political Islam. The UAE has faced criticism over allegations of providing military support to Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. In response to the question of how these allegations might affect her candidacy, Nusseibeh said she has taken a leave from her position in the UAE and will focus on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
If Nusseibeh wins, she will be recognized as the second UN Secretary-General from the Middle East after Boutros Boutros-Ghali from Egypt. Nusseibeh will also be the first woman to lead the UN, although she emphasized that her candidacy is not due to her gender.
She said: "I think it would be great if the next Secretary-General is a woman, but I am not running because I am a woman; I am running for a hopeful future for the UN and the necessity of having someone who is in pursuit of relentless diplomacy."
