Sudan has officially filed a case against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide through its alleged support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
The case specifically highlights atrocities committed against the Masalit ethnic group in West Darfur.
Sudan claims that the UAE has provided financial, political, and military support to the RSF and allied militias, which have carried out acts of genocide, murder, rape, forcible displacement, property destruction, and human rights violations. Sudan argues that the UAE’s actions amount to complicity in genocide against the Masalit people.
In response, the UAE has issued a statement accusing Sudan of trying to deflect responsibility of its actions.
“The filing is aimed at diverting attention from the established complicity of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the widespread atrocities that continue to devastate Sudan and its people,” the UAE statement reads in part.
In its application to the ICJ, Sudan seeks provisional measures to prevent further harm while the case is under review. These include demands that the UAE:
- Cease all support to the RSF and affiliated armed groups.
- Take all measures within its power to prevent further genocide and human rights violations against the Masalit people.
- Ensure that entities under its control do not commit genocide or related crimes.
Legal Basis and Next Steps
Sudan is invoking Article 36(1) of the ICJ Statute and Article IX of the Genocide Convention, which both countries are signatories to. Given the urgency, Sudan has also requested priority review under Article 74 of the ICJ Rules, ensuring that its request for provisional measures takes precedence over other cases.
The ICJ is expected to review the application and determine whether to grant interim measures before proceeding to a full hearing.
Background
The RSF, formerly a paramilitary unit of the Sudanese government, has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The violence, particularly in Darfur, has led to mass atrocities, raising international concerns about ethnic cleansing and genocide. Sudan now argues that external backing from the UAE has fueled these atrocities.
Global Reactions
The case is likely to strain Sudan-UAE relations and could prompt diplomatic scrutiny of the UAE’s alleged role in the Sudanese conflict. International human rights organizations have also been monitoring the situation, with many urging greater accountability for foreign actors involved in the conflict.
On Monday, the US issued a statement expressing concern following reports that that RSF had established a parallel government in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Attempts to establish a parallel government are unhelpful for peace and security for the country and risk further instability,” the statement read.
