The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, dismissed on Monday a high-profile case filed by Sudan accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of involvement in acts of genocide amid the country’s ongoing civil war. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, delivering a significant blow to Sudan’s diplomatic efforts to hold the UAE accountable.
Sudan had alleged that the UAE provided military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been locked in a brutal conflict with Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The support, according to Sudanese officials, facilitated atrocities including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement — acts they claimed amounted to genocide. The UAE vehemently denied the accusations.
The ICJ concluded that it had “no legal jurisdiction” to proceed with the lawsuit under the Genocide Convention, stating that both Sudan and the UAE had not consented to allow the court to arbitrate such disputes between them. The court clarified that states must both explicitly accept ICJ jurisdiction for a case to proceed.
A senior Emirati official, Reem Ketait, Deputy Minister of Political Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the decision, calling it “a clear vindication” and a sign that “the claim had no legal or factual basis.” She accused Sudan of abusing international legal mechanisms to deflect from its own internal crimes.
While the ICJ refrained from ruling on the substance of Sudan’s claims, it expressed deep concern over the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, where recent UN reports indicated at least 542 people were killed in just three weeks. Over eight million people have been displaced, and famine-like conditions now affect at least five regions of the country.
During hearings last month, Sudan’s acting Justice Minister, Muawia Osman, argued that the UAE’s continued logistical and military support to the RSF made the ongoing genocide possible. He urged the court to order the UAE to halt its support and pay full reparations to war victims.
Human rights organisations, such as the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights in Canada, labelled the ICJ’s dismissal “disheartening” and a setback for justice. Founder Irwin Cotler said the decision sends a dangerous message amid active atrocities: “Another genocide is being cleansed and covered up.”
With the legal route now closed at the ICJ, Sudan may explore other avenues for international accountability. However, without judicial backing, its allegations against the UAE are likely to face steep diplomatic resistance.
Protesters in Sudan expressed disappointment. “We are heartbroken… We only wanted justice,” said 57-year-old engineer Hisham Fadl Akasha during a demonstration.
