On Tuesday, Sudan requested judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue emergency orders to ask the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop their support to paramilitaries in Darfur. This was to prevent the killing and other crimes targeting the Masalit people.
The UAE rejected any claim of supporting the rebels and has also dismissed Sudan’s case. Cases in the ICJ take a long time to resolve, but the court allows countries to request emergency orders if meant to stop ongoing atrocities during a conflict.
The Sudanese Army, which is the legal apparatus of the state, brought the legal case before the ICJ and accused the UAE of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is a part of the Sudanese army but is now a rebel fighting the Sudanese army since 2023.
Notably, Sudan has been struggling in a deadly civil war that started in April 2023 between its military and paramilitary rebels. Both the RSF and Sudan’s military have been accused of human rights abuses. A report by the United Nations says more than 24000 people have been killed and displaced over 14 million people from their homes. This has created a humanitarian crisis not only in Sudan but also in its neighbouring countries.
Like all other civil wars, the Sudan Civil War also indulges many international and regional actors. Reportedly, the UAE has extended support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sudan’s Demand
The Sudanese government has demanded the UAE pay “full reparations,” including compensation to victims of the war.
Muawia Osman, Sudan’s acting justice minister, said, “The direct logistical and other support that the UAE has provided and continues to provide to the RSF has been and continues to be the primary driving force behind the genocide now taking place, including killing, rape, forced displacement and looting.”
The ICJ hearing comes a day after the US and Saudi Arabia asked the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces to restart peace talks to end the deadly conflict for the betterment of the people of Sudan.
UAE rejected the legality of the Case
Top UAE foreign ministry official Reem Ketait rejected Sudan’s claims and asked the court that Sudan’s claims “could not be further from the truth.”
He further added, “Since the start of the war, the UAE has not provided any arms or related materiel to either of the warring parties.”
The UAE has repeatedly questioned the legality of ICJ filing and said the court lacks legal authority to hear Sudan’s claim and is asking the judges to throw out the case.
The UAE foreign ministry official told the court, “It is clear beyond doubt that there is no jurisdiction. We therefore call upon the court to remove the case from the general list.”
The UAE has also told the judges that the case represented “the most recent iteration of the applicant’s misuse of our international institutions as a stage from which to attack the UAE.”
