Sudan has recently made a grave accusation against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), claiming the country is complicit in the genocide of the Masalit people.
This has led Sudan to take the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with proceedings officially confirmed on March 5, 2025.
Sudan’s Claims Against the UAE
According to Sudan, the UAE has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, an international treaty both countries have signed.
Sudan argues that the UAE has provided substantial support—financial, political, and military—to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
This support is alleged to have played a crucial role in the genocide of the Masalit people, especially in the region of West Darfur.
The UAE, however, denies these accusations, dismissing them as unfounded and part of a “cynical publicity stunt.”
A UAE official criticized Sudan’s application to the ICJ, arguing it was an attempt to deflect attention from the Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) own involvement in the ongoing atrocities.
The Atrocities of the RSF
The RSF, led by former Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, has been accused of numerous war crimes since the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army erupted in April 2023.
The RSF has been implicated in attacks targeting the Masalit people, which is believed to be part of a larger strategy of ethnic violence.
According to the United Nations (UN), more than 18,000 civilians have been killed in the war, with over 30 million people in Sudan urgently needing humanitarian aid.
This conflict has also caused massive displacement, with more than 12 million people—over three million refugees and nine million internally displaced—affected by the violence.
To put this in perspective, the number of displaced people in Sudan is higher than the entire population of Switzerland.
What Sudan Wants from the ICJ
Sudan is asking the International Court of Justice to intervene with what are known as “provisional measures.”
These measures would compel the UAE to take immediate steps to prevent further genocidal actions against the Masalit people.
Specifically, Sudan is seeking an order for the UAE to stop any acts that could cause death or serious harm to the group, including efforts to destroy the Masalit people physically or in other ways, such as preventing births within the group.
Sudan is also requesting that the UAE ensure that any irregular armed groups it supports, including the RSF, do not engage in acts of genocide, conspiracy, or incitement.
This would extend to preventing any involvement in genocide-related actions or complicity in such acts.
What Can the ICJ Do?
The International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, is the highest judicial authority within the United Nations system.
While it typically takes years for the court to make final rulings in cases of genocide, it does have the power to impose provisional measures in urgent situations.
In previous cases, such as South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel over alleged genocide in Gaza, the court ordered immediate actions to prevent further harm.
If the ICJ finds Sudan’s case credible, it could issue similar orders for the UAE, compelling them to stop their support of the RSF and take steps to protect the Masalit people.
The Future of Sudan’s Legal Battle
As Sudan seeks justice for the atrocities committed against its people, the legal battle at the ICJ represents a critical moment in the pursuit of accountability for the conflict in Sudan.
Whether the UAE will be ordered to take action remains uncertain, but the case has already drawn international attention to the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
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