The state of Somaliland, recognized only by Israel, has endorsed the UN Secretary-General candidacy of UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh on 21 October.
“Lana Nusseibeh is an exceptional diplomat and an outstanding candidate to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General,” Somaliland’s government said on X.
“She brings remarkable experience, vision, and diplomatic leadership to the global stage,” it added, saying it “would be wonderful to see her bring her leadership and expertise to this historic role.”
The UAE official was her state’s ambassador to the UN from 2013 to 2024.
According to a Financial Times (FT) exclusive released on Tuesday, Nusseibeh has emerged as a contender for the role.
“Supporters of Lana Nusseibeh have been sounding out missions at the UN … to test the waters for her candidacy,” diplomats are cited as saying.
Other sources say she “could enter the race as early as this week.”
Other candidates include head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, who is “second-ranked” after front-runner in the race Rebeca Grynspan, former vice-president of Costa Rica and head of the UN trade and development body, FT reports.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is due to step down at the end of this year following two five-year terms.
Nusseibeh’s reported candidacy comes as the UN faces a major budget crisis due to billions in cuts made by Washington, traditionally its biggest donor.
It also coincides with a global energy crisis and major concern over the potential resumption of an all-out US-Israeli war against Iran.
“We should not allow Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, to set the global price for food and gas,” Nusseibeh told US media at the start of the US-Israeli war, highlighting her country’s hostile position toward the Islamic Republic.
Abu Dhabi was a key partner in the war on Iran. Energy and military sites across the UAE were heavily targeted by Tehran’s retaliatory operations.
The UAE also took part in the Saudi-led war and imposed famine in Yemen, as well as the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) genocidal attacks in Sudan.
