Sudan files case against UAE for 'complicity in genocide'

Sudan has brought the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, in the Sudanese civil war. Sudan argues that the UAE, by providing military, financial, and political support to the RSF, is an "accomplice to genocide" against the Masalit community in West Darfur. This accusation highlights the severe implications of external involvement in the ongoing conflict.

The UAE has strongly denied Sudan's accusations, calling the case a "cynical publicity stunt" and stating that it will seek its immediate dismissal. Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of committing atrocities. The RSF has been particularly accused of committing genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups in the Darfur region, exacerbating ethnic tensions.

According to Agence France-Presse, the documents submitted by Sudan to the International Court of Justice state: "The United Arab Emirates has fueled the rebellion and supported militias that have committed genocide in West Darfur. The United Arab Emirates must make full reparations for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts, including paying compensation to the victims of the war." The legal proceedings aim to hold the UAE accountable for its alleged actions.

An unnamed UAE official stated: "The allegations made by the Sudanese Armed Forces representative before the International Court of Justice lack any legal or factual basis, and this is yet another attempt to divert attention from this disastrous war." Previously, UN experts overseeing the Darfur arms embargo had stated that allegations of the UAE smuggling weapons to the RSF through Chad were credible, raising concerns about violations of international law.

The advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice are not legally binding but still carry significant political weight. The war, which has lasted nearly two years, has devastated Sudan, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, displacing more than 12 million people, and exacerbating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Earlier this week, a displacement camp in North Darfur was heavily shelled, reportedly causing dozens of deaths. According to the BBC, a crowded market in the Abu Shouk camp on the outskirts of El Fasher was attacked for about two hours on Tuesday evening, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.