International Court Of Justice Dismisses Sudan’s Genocide Case Against UAE

 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has dismissed Sudan’s case accusing the United Arab Emirates of violating the Genocide Convention by supporting paramilitary forces involved in atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region. On Monday, the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to proceed with the case or impose provisional measures against the UAE, effectively ending the legal challenge.

Sudan had filed the case in March, alleging that the UAE provided arms and support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of committing mass atrocities during Sudan’s ongoing civil war. In particular, Sudan’s acting justice minister, Muawia Osman, told the court that a genocide was underway against the Masalit ethnic group in western Sudan, with the UAE allegedly complicit.

The UAE, which has consistently denied any involvement, welcomed the ICJ’s decision. Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, said in a statement that the ruling was “a clear and decisive affirmation” that Sudan’s claims were unfounded. She described Sudan’s case as an attempt to misuse the court for political purposes and deflect from the Sudanese Armed Forces' own conduct in the conflict.

“The facts speak for themselves: the UAE bears no responsibility for the conflict in Sudan. On the contrary, the atrocities committed by the warring parties are well-documented,” Ketait stated.

The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, when a power struggle erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by former ally Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has devastated the country, displacing over 12 million people and pushing half the population into acute hunger. International diplomatic efforts have so far failed to secure a ceasefire or political resolution.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, handles legal disputes between states and interprets international treaties. Both Sudan and the UAE are parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention, which formed the basis of Sudan’s claim.