The Emirati Candidate and the Sudanese Proverb

Sudanhorizon – Mohamed Osman Adam
It appears that Lana Nusseibeh—the United Arab Emirates’ nominee for the position of UN Secretary-General—has come to realize how her country’s support for the “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF) militia, and the atrocities committed by that group, jeopardize her chances of success. She seems to understand that she must distance herself from the source of this harm—a necessity underscored by compelling evidence from various official, private, and public institutions, including independent media outlets.
As the final, informal voting processes within the United Nations accelerate—including a vote taking place today, Thursday, in the Security Council—she appears to be reconsidering her position, at least on the surface. Yet, no one is fooled by such a maneuver. While it is true that she has—for the first time and quite explicitly—held the RSF responsible for the “atrocities” committed in El Fasher, Darfur, and across Sudan, she has simultaneously attempted to distance her country from this political fiasco and the grave violations of international humanitarian law. The reality, however, is that involvement in supporting criminals and thugs inherently implies complicity in their crimes. It is also worth noting that, in a rare move, she did not mention the “Sudanese Armed Forces” by name in her response to a report published by the influential American outlet *Politico*. By doing so, she avoided equating them with the “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF)—an approach she and her country have consistently maintained in the past. Nevertheless, it was clear that the reports and the subsequent reactions—spearheaded by Sudan—have caused significant and tangible damage to her election campaign, weakening her position as a candidate for the post.
In her response to the (Politico) article, Nusseibeh wrote on her official X (formerly Twitter) account: that she has been clear about the need to hold those responsible for the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces accountable, and that she has reaffirmed her support for the work of UN fact-finding mechanisms.
In this response, she made no mention of either her own country or the Sudanese Armed Forces.
In another post on X, she added that Sudan would be a priority for her me as UN Secretary-General, that fighting must stop, and civilians and humanitarian workers must be protected. The atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces demand accountability, and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people must serve as the primary guide for any political process.
However, her statements—when considered alongside the findings of the United Nations, human rights commissions, and panels of experts—would also place responsibility upon the parties that have supported the Rapid Support Forces.
It is worth noting that the Emirati candidate currently ranks fifth among the eight candidates remaining in the race. The voting process taking place today at the UN Security Council will reveal the direction in which things are heading. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the campaign launched by Sudan to demonstrate her moral unsuitability for the position has begun to bear fruit; it has, at the very least, compelled her to reformulate her statements regarding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and further developments in this regard are expected in the coming period.
It should also be noted that Sudan has not claimed she lacks diplomatic or administrative competence; rather, Khartoum asserts—based on concrete and consistent evidence—that she lacks the moral standing and values required for this position. She has defended atrocities and crimes committed in Sudan by the RSF—a force backed by the UAE—and has cast doubt on the work of UN panels of experts, the very bodies she aspires to lead if elected. She has now begun to retreat from both positions, though she continues to turn a blind eye to her country’s support for the RSF militia.
Regarding Sudan and this campaign, there is a Western proverb that says, “Practice leads to perfection,” while a Sudanese proverb suggests, “Repeated efforts eventually yield positive results.”

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=19873