The International Court of Justice has rejected Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates, which accused the UAE of contributing to genocide in the northeastern African country by providing weapons to paramilitary groups, citing a lack of jurisdiction.
Last month, Sudan presented its argument to the UN’s highest court, claiming the UAE was breaching the Genocide Convention by backing paramilitary forces in Sudan; however, the UAE contended that the case should be dismissed.
The court sided with the UAE’s claims, denying Sudan’s request for urgent measures and removing the case from its agenda.
According to a summary of the ruling, due to the lack of jurisdiction, “the court is precluded by its statute from taking any position on the merits of the claims made by Sudan.”
“This ruling is a clear and unequivocal affirmation that the case was completely unfounded. The court’s determination that it lacks jurisdiction confirms that this matter should never have been initiated,” stated Reem Ketait, deputy assistant minister for political affairs at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The facts are apparent: the UAE holds no responsibility for the unrest in Sudan. In fact, the atrocities committed by the fighting factions are well-documented.”
With a vote of 14-to-two, the court dismissed Sudan’s plea for emergency measures to avert genocidal acts against the Masalit tribe, which has been subjected to significant ethnic-based assaults by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces alongside allied Arab militias.
Sudan claims that the UAE is supplying arms to the RSF, which has been engaged in combat with the Sudanese army in a civil war that has persisted for two years.
While the UAE denies these allegations, several UN experts and US lawmakers have found them credible, referencing evidence in reports from human rights organizations regarding arms supplies.
The most recent report from a UN panel of experts released in April did not mention the UAE, except in relation to its participation in peace negotiations in Sudan.
The ICJ serves as the UN’s highest court for addressing disputes between states and violations of international treaties. Both Sudan and the UAE are signatories of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
