Sudan

Sudan Takes UAE to World Court Over Alleged Genocide Support

Published MAR 7 2025

Story

Above: Newly graduated Sudanese army soldiers stand in attention during a ceremony in Merowe in northern Sudan on Feb. 27, 2025. Image credit: ContributorAFP via Getty Images

The Facts

Sudan has filed a case against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the Gulf state of violating the Genocide Convention through its alleged support of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in West Darfur.
Al Jazeera
Voice of America
The case centers on allegations that the UAE provided extensive financial, political, and military support to the RSF, enabling acts of genocide, murder, rape, and forcible displacement against the Masalit ethnic group in West Darfur since at least 2023.
Middle East Eye
BBC News
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has caused over 20K deaths and displaced more than 14M people, approximately 30% of the country's population, with an estimated 3.2M Sudanese people fleeing to neighboring countries.
AA
ABC News
Sudan has requested the ICJ impose emergency measures, including ordering the UAE — a US ally — to prevent further genocidal acts against the Masalit. Sudan and the UAE are both signatories to the 1948 genocide convention.
PressTV
ap
The UAE strongly rejected Sudan's allegations, describing the case as a "cynical publicity stunt" and announcing its intention to seek immediate dismissal, stating the claims lack legal and factual basis.
Barrons
BusinessLIVE
In January, the US Treasury Department sanctioned RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, also known as Hemedti, and seven RSF companies in the UAE, while US investigators and UN experts accused the UAE of smuggling arms to the RSF through Chad.
Yahoo! News
Eastafrican

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

There's no doubt that the UAE's support for the RSF has directly enabled genocide. While claiming to be a humanitarian actor, the Gulf state provides weapons, financial backing, and political support for atrocities ravaging Sudan and displacing millions of civilians. Abu Dhabi is complicit in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Responsible Statecraft

Narrative B

This case represents a blatant attempt by Sudan's illegitimate military junta to distract attention from its own role and atrocities in the devastating conflict. The truth is that the UAE consistently provided humanitarian aid and advocated for peace and a political solution to end the civil war and the suffering of millions of innocent civilians.

Sudan Tribune