World Court rules in favour of UAE, dismisses Sudan's genocide case
The International Court of Justice said it had dismissed the case, saying it lacked authority to rule on the matter.
The UAE said in a statement it welcomed the decision of the ICJ to dismiss the case on the grounds of a manifest lack of jurisdiction. Based on this decision, the case will be removed from the court's registry and all related proceedings will be formally concluded.
Sudan had filed a case against the UAE before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, arguing it is supplying weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been battling the Sudanese army since 2023.
The UAE denies supporting the rebels and has dismissed Sudan's case as "political theatre" distracting from efforts to end a war that has killed tens of thousands.
"This decision confirms what has long been clear: the lawsuit filed by the Sudanese Armed Forces is null and void," the country said after the ruling in a statement.
Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and the UAE's representative before the court, said, 'The decision clearly and unequivocally confirms that the case presented is without merit. Obviously, today's decision represents a decisive rejection of the Sudanese Armed Forces' attempt to exploit the court to spread misinformation and divert attention from its responsibility in the conflict.
'As the devastating war in Sudan enters its third year, the UAE calls on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to end the war without preconditions, commit to negotiations, and allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid. The international community must act decisively to facilitate a transition to a civilian-led political process independent of military control and hold accountable those responsible for committing human rights atrocities," she added.
Ketait concluded her statement by saying, 'We reaffirm our commitment to working with regional and international partners to strengthen collective action and build a peaceful and prosperous future for the Sudanese people.'
Prior to the ICJ's ruling, Reem Ketait affirmed that the allegations made by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) lack any legal or factual basis.
The Deputy Assistant Minister of Political Affairs, stated that the UAE is not a party to the armed conflict in Sudan and does not provide support to any side, making the allegations against it baseless.
Ketait had earlier said Sudan's allegations were "at best misleading and at worst pure fabrications".
"This case is the most recent iteration of the applicant's misuse of our international institutions as a stage from which to attack the UAE," added Ketait.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The rulings of the ICJ, which hears disputes between states, are final and binding, but the court has no means to ensure compliance.
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