Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the British Conservative Party, has called on the United Kingdom government to oppose the nomination of Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh for the post of United Nations Secretary-General.
The call came during a speech he delivered in the British House of Commons on October 27, 2026, in which Duncan Smith linked his position to allegations that the United Arab Emirates has provided military and logistical support to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose members have been accused of committing widespread atrocities against civilians, including crimes described in United Nations reports as bearing the “hallmarks of genocide.”
Duncan Smith stressed that Nusseibeh “must never be allowed to lead the United Nations.” He urged the British government to confront Abu Dhabi over its role in the war in Sudan and impose targeted sanctions on those involved. He warned that British economic interests should not take precedence over the principle of accountability for serious human rights violations.
Duncan Smith’s remarks come amid growing international controversy surrounding Nusseibeh’s nomination, which the UAE officially submitted on October 21, 2026. Nusseibeh served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2024 and currently holds the position of Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from which she is on leave to pursue her campaign for the post.
Her nomination has faced criticism from Sudanese and international human rights organizations that accuse the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied these allegations, describing them as “false and unsupported by evidence.”
It is worth noting that the selection process for the next United Nations Secretary-General, who will succeed António Guterres when his term ends in late 2026, is still underway amid competition among several candidates. The Security Council has yet to reach a decision on the matter.
