Sudan has made a bold move by filing a case against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the Gulf nation of aiding and abetting genocide in Darfur.
The lawsuit claims that the UAE’s alleged support of Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), played a role in atrocities committed against the Masalit people—an accusation that, if proven, could have major international repercussions.
The UAE quickly dismissed the lawsuit, calling it “nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt.” Anwar Gargash, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the case, urging Sudan to focus on ending the ongoing conflict in its own country instead of engaging in “feeble media maneuvers.”
Gargash emphasized that Sudan’s priorities should lie in ending the violence, addressing the humanitarian disaster, and pursuing peace rather than further escalating tensions through legal means.
The case, filed at the ICJ—the highest court in international disputes—accuses the UAE of breaching the Genocide Convention by providing direct support to the RSF, which is said to be responsible for violent attacks against the Masalit people in Darfur.
Sudan is calling for the court to issue provisional measures demanding reparations from the UAE and a commitment to prevent any further acts of genocide.
The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s army has raged for nearly two years, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 12 million people. While the war has devastated Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, it has also spread to the Darfur region, a land long plagued by ethnic and tribal conflict, often fueled by political elites to maintain power.
In Darfur, the RSF, alongside its allied fighters primarily from nomadic “Arab” tribes, has been accused of committing genocidal acts against the “non-Arab” Masalit people. These confrontations have drawn worldwide concern, with some experts suggesting the situation is one of ethnic cleansing.
The RSF has repeatedly denied its involvement in any civilian attacks, but its actions—such as recent assaults on the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur—have raised alarm. In January, the United States formally accused the RSF of committing genocide in the region.
Sudan’s legal action seeks to hold the UAE accountable for its alleged role in supporting these genocidal acts, and it urges the court to ensure that any armed groups linked to the UAE refrain from committing further violations.
While ICJ rulings are binding, the court lacks enforcement power, leaving questions about how such a judgment would be carried out.
This legal battle adds a new layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. The ongoing war has left millions at risk of famine and triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
As the international community watches closely, the case against the UAE could have far-reaching implications for Sudan’s future and for the broader geopolitics of the region.
The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the eyes of the world are now firmly on Sudan and the UAE as they prepare for a legal showdown that could shape the course of justice for the victims of Darfur’s long-running conflict.
