UAE Accused of Funding Sudan Genocide at Global Court Trial in the ICJ

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has opened a critical hearing that could hold the United Arab Emirates accountable for alleged complicity in the genocide unfolding in Sudan. In a rare legal confrontation between sovereign states, Sudan is accusing the UAE of arming and supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass atrocities in Darfur.

Sudan’s acting justice minister stated that the “ongoing genocide would not be possible without the complicity of the UAE,” referencing weapons allegedly flown into eastern Chad and then delivered to the RSF. The Sudanese government has asked the ICJ to order the UAE to halt its support, pay reparations, and provide compensation to victims.

The ICJ is now determining whether Sudan’s case can proceed, a decision expected in the coming weeks. If allowed, the court would have to weigh whether a state can be held responsible under international law for enabling another actor’s genocidal campaign.

UAE Denies All Charges, Calls Allegations Fabricated

The UAE has fiercely rejected the accusations. Its legal team argued that Sudan is “misusing” the ICJ as a platform for political attacks, with Reem Ketait of the UAE foreign ministry dismissing the claims as “misleading at best and fabricated at worst.” The UAE also invoked a 2005 reservation to the Genocide Convention, asserting that the ICJ has no authority to adjudicate its compliance.

Yet Sudan insists that there is sufficient evidence to warrant urgent action. Legal representatives presented UN expert reports, satellite-tracked flights, U.S. sanctions, and field intelligence to argue that the UAE knowingly facilitated the RSF’s operations.

Evidence of Arms Shipments and Military Aid

Sudan’s legal counsel, Professor Eirik Bjorge, referenced a UN panel that deemed “credible” reports of UAE cargo planes delivering weapons to the RSF via Chad. He also noted that a field hospital built by the UAE near the same airport was used as a support hub for RSF fighters.

Sudan further cited a U.S. sanctions package announced in January, targeting seven RSF-linked companies registered in the UAE. While the UAE claims these entities are inactive, Sudan argues they played a direct role in channeling funds and logistics to the RSF.

Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab also identified artillery used during the 12-day bombardment of the Zamzam refugee camp that matched a model of Chinese-made howitzers purchased by the UAE — and by no other known actor.

Genocide in Darfur: The Core of the Case

The ICJ case focuses on alleged genocide against the Masalit ethnic group in Darfur, where thousands have been killed and displaced. Sudan argues that, under international law, states must not only avoid committing genocide but also prevent and punish it. The UAE, according to Sudan, has failed on all three counts.

The charges come amid a wider conflict that erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the RSF. Both factions have been accused of war crimes, but attention has turned to foreign actors believed to be fueling the violence from behind the scenes.

Power Games in the Region

Analysts say the UAE’s involvement in Sudan stems from geopolitical interests, including rivalry with Saudi Arabia, access to natural resources, and opposition to political Islam. This proxy-style influence, critics say, has turned Sudan into a battlefield where civilian lives are sacrificed for strategic gains.

Efforts by Western nations to mediate the conflict have failed. A UK-led initiative to form a ceasefire contact group collapsed last week after Arab states declined to endorse a joint statement in London.

What Happens Next?

The ICJ must first decide whether it has the authority to proceed. A ruling in Sudan’s favor could open the door to a landmark legal case — one that could hold powerful states responsible not only for their actions but also for what they enable abroad.

Regardless of the outcome, the case has put the UAE’s foreign policy under a spotlight. As evidence of atrocities continues to surface, the world watches to see if justice will prevail — or if power and diplomacy will, once again, override accountability.