The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday rejected Sudan’s genocide allegations against the United Arab Emirates, ruling it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. Sudan had accused the UAE of complicity in atrocities by allegedly supplying weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing civil war.
Presiding judges acknowledged the “unfolding human tragedy” in Sudan but cited the UAE’s 2005 reservation to the Genocide Convention’s dispute clause as grounds for dismissal. The court expressed particular concern about West Darfur’s humanitarian catastrophe but stated the legal pathway for the case was “manifestly lacking.”
UAE officials welcomed the decision, with foreign ministry official Reem Ketait calling Sudan’s claims “utterly baseless” and a distraction from its own alleged war crimes. The ruling comes as RSF forces launched their first attack on Port Sudan this weekend, escalating the conflict that has created the world’s largest displacement crisis.
While the ICJ case is closed, UN agencies warn the situation remains dire, with famine declared in five regions and over 540 civilians killed in North Darfur alone during recent fighting. Sudan’s government had sought reparations and an arms embargo against the UAE, alleging Emirati support enabled RSF atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence.
