UAE rejects Sudan’s genocide case at the ICJ, calling it political theater. ICJ may dismiss the case over jurisdictional limitations.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pushed back against Sudan’s genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing on April 10 that the UN court lacks jurisdiction and that the case is politically motivated rather than legally grounded.
“The idea that the UAE is somehow the driver of this reprehensible conflict in Sudan could not be further from the truth,” said UAE legal representative Reem Ketait, a Foreign Ministry official.
She called Sudan’s suit a “misuse of international institutions” meant to tarnish Abu Dhabi’s image, not to uphold the Genocide Convention of 1948.
📑 What Sudan Is Claiming
Sudan accuses the UAE of arming and financing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group implicated in atrocities against civilians—particularly the Masalit ethnic group in Darfur.
Sudan’s lawyers say this violates the Genocide Convention, to which both countries are signatories. They’re requesting emergency provisional measures, including an immediate halt to UAE’s alleged military aid.
⚖️ Why the ICJ May Toss the Case
International legal scholars note that the UAE entered a reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention—limiting the ICJ’s ability to rule in cases involving it.
“The court is most likely to say this case cannot go forward,” said legal scholar Melanie O’Brien of the University of Western Australia. “The UAE’s reservation essentially shields it from this proceeding.”
If the ICJ agrees, the court could dismiss Sudan’s application without considering its claims of genocide.
🌍 A War with No End in Sight
Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when power-sharing talks between the army and RSF collapsed. The war has killed more than 24,000 people and displaced over 14 million, including 3.2 million refugees.
Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have been accused of war crimes. Key cities like Khartoum remain contested, despite army gains. Humanitarian groups warn of impending famine, systemic sexual violence, and ethnic targeting.
📌 Learn more about the Sudan conflict timeline.
💰 U.S. Sanctions and RSF Financing in the Gulf
In January 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) and seven UAE-based companies accused of financing the militia.
Weeks earlier, the U.S. declared RSF’s Darfur campaign an act of genocide, escalating diplomatic pressure on Gulf actors allegedly involved.
🔗 Read: RSF Sanctions Deepen Gulf Scrutiny
✈️ Arms, Flights, and Denials
The Conflict Observatory, funded by the U.S. government, has tracked UAE-linked military flights landing at Amdjarass Airport in Chad—a known RSF hub.
The UAE insists these flights delivered medical aid and hospital equipment. However, the volume and frequency of the shipments have raised questions about non-military cargo claims.
Critics argue the lack of transparency surrounding RSF’s logistics and supply lines continues to fuel suspicion of foreign involvement.
🧭 UAE’s Diplomatic Balancing Act
This ICJ case places the UAE in a delicate diplomatic position. The Gulf state has worked to portray itself as a regional peace broker, from Libya to Ethiopia.
A prolonged ICJ trial—or a loss in court—could damage Abu Dhabi’s international standing, particularly with allies like the U.S., EU, and African Union.
Even if the case is dismissed, the reputational fallout may endure, especially among human rights groups and African civil society.
🏛️ What’s Really at Stake?
Sudan’s legal move appears less about a definitive court victory and more about shaping global opinion. By portraying the RSF and its backers as enablers of genocide, Sudan hopes to diplomatically isolate the militia.
“The courtroom, like the battlefield, is now a venue of confrontation,” said a Horn of Africa analyst with the International Crisis Group.
📌 For more, explore our Sudan Conflict Coverage and UAE’s Role in African Conflicts.
