Sudan launched a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday, March 5, against the UAE over its alleged support for the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been battling for the African nation’s control for nearly two years.
Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied backing the RSF, but UN experts have said they have found evidence the UAE provided support to the group via countries bordering Sudan.
Sudan’s military-led government accuses the Gulf nation of enabling the RSF’s alleged acts of “genocide, murder, theft of property, rape, forcible displacement, trespassing, vandalism of public properties, and violation of human rights”.
It also alleged in its application that the RSF perpetrated “genocide” against the non-Arab Masalit community since at least 2023 with “direct support” from the United Arab Emirates.
Sudan said Abu Dhabi was “complicit in the genocide on the Masalit through its direction of and provision of extensive financial, political, and military support for the rebel RSF militia”.
Both Sudan and the UAE are parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Sudan requested the ICJ to order the UAE to take measures to prevent the commission of all alleged abuses and atrocities against the Masalit.
The court has not said when it would hear the case and make a determination.
Diplomatic ties between Sudan and the UAE have deteriorated since Khartoum accused Abu Dhabi of arming the RSF in late 2023, leading to tit-for-tat expulsions of their diplomats.
Abu Dhabi denies the accusations and says it seeks “de-escalation, a ceasefire and the initiation of diplomatic dialogue” to end the war in Sudan.
Sudan’s regular army and the RSF have been battling each other for the war-torn country’s control since April 2023.
