By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Netherlands-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hear a case brought by Sudan, seeking emergency measures against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for allegedly violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention by arming paramilitary forces, the World Court announced on Friday.
Sudan has alleged that the UAE is providing military support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the Sudanese army in a power struggle since 2023.
Although the UAE denies the allegation, UN experts and US lawmakers consider it credible.
The Sudanese Armed Forces’ actions at the ICJ “are nothing more than a political game and publicity stunt—an attempt to drag a longstanding friend of Africa into the conflict they themselves have instigated and fuelled,” a UAE official said.
“Despite this, the UAE remains resolute in its humanitarian commitment towards the people of Sudan, focused on alleviating the humanitarian disaster inflicted by both warring factions.”
Sudan’s legal action before the ICJ relates to intense ethnic-based attacks by the RSF and allied Arab militia groups against the non-Arab Masalit tribe in West Darfur in 2023, according to a Reuters report.
In January, the US labelled those attacks as genocide.
Sudan has requested that the court impose emergency measures ordering the UAE to prevent genocidal acts in Darfur.
The court said it would hear Sudan’s request on 10 April.
Cases brought before the ICJ sometimes take years to determine. However, countries can ask for emergency measures, which are meant to ensure that the dispute between nations does not escalate before the final determination of the case.
