The Hague, April 11, 2025 — Sudan has petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to impose emergency measures against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing it of aiding genocide in Darfur by supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The case, filed under the Genocide Convention, marks the latest international effort to address atrocities in the war-torn region.
Speaking before the court, Sudan’s Acting Minister of Justice, Muawia Osman Mohamed Khair, accused the UAE of complicity in a campaign of ethnic cleansing targeting the Masalit, a non-Arab ethnic group in West Darfur. Sudan’s legal team cited evidence from United Nations reports and other credible sources alleging that arms shipments from the UAE, routed through Chad, have included heavy weaponry—such as howitzers and logistical support—destined for the RSF.
Sudan also referenced the U.S. State Department’s January 2024 determination that genocide was being committed in Darfur by the RSF and affiliated militias, further bolstering its claim that the UAE’s material support is exacerbating an ongoing genocide.
The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), has been accused of mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement in the region since Sudan’s internal conflict erupted in April 2023.
UAE Challenges Court’s Jurisdiction
In response, the UAE rejected the accusations and urged the ICJ to dismiss the case, arguing that it is not subject to the court’s jurisdiction under the Genocide Convention. The UAE’s legal representatives pointed to a 2005 reservation to Article IX of the Convention, which exempts it from accepting ICJ jurisdiction in inter-state disputes regarding genocide.
However, Sudan countered that this reservation does not preclude the court from acting in the face of urgent humanitarian concerns and violations of international law. Its legal team argued that jurisdiction is justified due to the gravity of the alleged crimes and the international obligations of state parties to prevent genocide.
The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is expected to take several weeks to deliberate on whether it will accept jurisdiction and whether to grant Sudan’s request for provisional measures to halt UAE support to the RSF.
Broader Context
Sudan’s appeal to the ICJ comes amid escalating violence in Darfur, with international observers warning of ethnic cleansing and systematic atrocities reminiscent of the early 2000s conflict in the region. The war between Sudan’s military and the RSF has displaced millions and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with genocide allegations attracting increasing global scrutiny.
The proceedings mark a rare legal confrontation between two Arab nations at the UN’s top court and could have wide-ranging implications for state accountability in conflict zones.
Sources:
- International Court of Justice – Public Hearings, April 2025
- UN Panel of Experts Reports on Sudan (2023–2024)
- U.S. Department of State, Genocide Determination on Sudan, January 2024
- Reporting via Al Jazeera, Reuters, and Associated Press
International Court of Justice (ICJ) Palais de la Paix on Wikipedia by Lybil BER
