UN Candidate Vows Accountability for RSF Atrocities in Sudan

Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh, a candidate for UN secretary general, has stated that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) must be held accountable for wartime atrocities.

Nusseibeh said she would support the work of UN-appointed investigators examining alleged wrongdoing by both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the conflict.

Her comments followed a report suggesting Sudan's army-backed government opposes her bid due to alleged Emirati support for the RSF, which the UAE denies.

Nusseibeh emphasized the need for a 'credible political process' in Sudan, where the civil war has continued since April 2023, following a power struggle between SAF and RSF.

Recent UN reports allege RSF drone strikes have killed civilians and destroyed homes, while investigators say SAF has intensified surveillance and arrests, putting civilians at risk.

Nusseibeh, who has been part of ceasefire talks as UAE ambassador to the UN, is running in a race with eight other candidates, gaining support from Gulf nations and others.