UN court dismisses Sudan's genocide lawsuit against UAE, Cites lack of jurisdiction

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected Sudan’s lawsuit against the United Arab Emirates, which alleged the Gulf state played a role in genocide during Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The case, filed by Sudan, accused the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with weapons, funds, and mercenaries—support Sudan claimed enabled atrocities in the Darfur region.

In a decisive 14-2 vote, judges at the ICJ concluded they had no jurisdiction to hear the case. The court cited the UAE’s reservation to Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, which exempts it from legal claims brought by other states under that treaty.

The court emphasized that due to the jurisdictional limitation, it was “precluded by its statute from taking any position on the merits of the claims made by Sudan.”

Sudan’s claims included mass killings, forced displacements, and sexual violence, especially targeting non-Arab communities like the Masalit in Darfur. While the UAE strongly rejected the allegations, calling them “political theatre,” it welcomed the court’s decision. Reem Ketait, the UAE’s deputy assistant minister for political affairs, described the ruling as “clear and decisive.”

She added that international focus should now shift to ending the conflict in Sudan and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those affected.

Notably, the case was unusual for targeting an alleged external sponsor rather than direct perpetrators of atrocities, raising broader questions about state responsibility in fueling foreign conflicts. Though the court did not examine the allegations themselves, the case underscores how international legal forums are increasingly becoming arenas for global political disputes.