Sudan Accuses UAE of Fueling Genocide in Darfur, Seeks Emergency Orders from World Court

Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates of contributing to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, specifically targeting the non-Arab Masalit tribe. In a formal complaint presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday, Sudan claimed that the UAE is violating the Genocide Convention by providing support to paramilitary forces in the region, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias. Sudan is requesting that the court issue urgent preventative orders to halt these actions.

The allegations stem from a series of violent, ethnically motivated attacks carried out by the RSF and their Arab militia allies against the Masalit people in West Darfur during 2023. Sudan’s acting justice minister, Muawia Osman, argued before the ICJ that the UAE is complicit in these atrocities. He pointed to the fact that the RSF, which is believed to be largely composed of Arab fighters from Darfur, has received support from the UAE in the form of arms and resources.

The United States has already recognized these attacks as genocide, having made an official determination in January. Sudan accuses the UAE of arming and supporting the RSF, which has been engaged in a brutal two-year civil war against Sudanese government forces. Although the UAE strongly denies these allegations, both U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns that the claims are credible.

In response to Sudan’s legal filing, Reem Ketait, a senior official from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the accusations, calling them a “political game” and a “baseless PR stunt.” She further stated that no credible evidence had been presented to support Sudan’s allegations.

Given the lengthy timeline for cases before the ICJ, Sudan has requested emergency measures to prevent further escalation of violence while the legal process unfolds. These measures are designed to prevent immediate harm and ensure that the situation does not worsen while the court considers the case. The UAE is expected to present its defense later on Thursday, likely arguing that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction in the matter.