Sudan’s government has filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of complicity in genocide by providing arms and funding to a rebel militia involved in the ongoing civil war.
The UAE has dismissed the complaint as a “cynical publicity stunt,” suggesting it is intended to distract from the “widespread atrocities” attributed to the Sudanese government.
The ICJ, as the United Nations’ highest court, addresses disputes between nations and violations of international treaties. Jurisdiction in this case is established as both Sudan and the UAE are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Sudan, one of Africa's poorest countries, has a population of 50 million, with nearly one-third displaced due to the civil war that ignited in April 2023, resulting in significant loss of life, hunger, and disease.
Reports indicate that tens of thousands have died, and over three million have fled the conflict. The United Nations has identified Sudan as facing the world's worst hunger crisis, impacting an estimated five million individuals.
Both government forces and rebel factions have been reported to commit atrocities against civilians, according to findings from the United Nations and various human rights organizations.
The complaint, submitted on Tuesday, specifically targets the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias, which have been implicated in massacres against the non-Arab Masalit tribe in West Darfur.
Sudan alleges that the rebels have engaged in “genocide, murder, theft, rape,” and other violations, stating that these acts have been “perpetrated and enabled by the direct support” from the UAE, as noted in a court statement.
Sudan has requested that the ICJ issue an urgent restraining order against the UAE, mandating that they prevent any armed units or individuals under their control from committing further genocidal actions against the Masalit people.
It remains uncertain whether the judges will approve the restraining order, and even if granted, enforcement may be limited. Previous orders by the court, including those against Russia and Israel, have often gone unheeded.
Though determining whether genocide is occurring may take considerable time, nations are eager to present their cases to the ICJ and seek emergency orders as a means to publicly articulate their positions before an esteemed international legal forum.