Context:

The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan's case against the United Arab Emirates, accusing the latter of fueling genocide in Sudan's civil war, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Despite being signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the UAE's 2005 opt-out from a key treaty clause prevents such suits. Sudan alleged the UAE's support of the Rapid Support Forces amounted to genocide against the Masalit people, but the UAE denied these claims, accusing Sudan of misinformation. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which evolved from clashes in April 2023, has caused extensive humanitarian crises, with both sides accused of severe human rights violations. In a complex geopolitical backdrop, the UAE has been reportedly backing the RSF through covert operations, while Sudan's military has been accused of similar misconducts in their power struggle over regions like Darfur and Khartoum.

Dive Deeper:

• The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan's genocide case against the UAE, arguing that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter due to the UAE's opt-out from a key clause of the Genocide Convention in 2005, which prevents countries from suing each other at the court.

• Sudan accused the UAE of arming and funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in Sudan's civil war, alleging these actions amounted to genocide against the Masalit people in Darfur. However, the UAE refuted these claims, arguing that Sudan had failed to present credible evidence.

• The conflict in Sudan, beginning in April 2023, has resulted in widespread famine and displacement, affecting nearly 13 million people and causing tens of thousands of deaths, with both the RSF and Sudan's military accused of war crimes and human rights violations, including ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate targeting of civilians.

• The RSF, led by Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, is blamed for ethnic cleansing against the non-Arab Masalit group, while the military, under Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, faces accusations of using chemical weapons and targeting civilians indiscriminately.

• The UAE has allegedly supported the RSF through covert operations, including supplying weapons and drones and treating injured fighters, which has exacerbated the conflict and drawn in multiple regional and international actors, complicating the situation further.

• Recent developments have seen the Sudanese military consolidating control over Khartoum and the main international airport, while the RSF has maintained its hold on Darfur, with reports of attacks on civilians and looting in cities like Nahud and Port Sudan.

• The international court expressed its deep concern over the human tragedy unfolding in Sudan, although it refrained from taking a stance on the allegations due to its procedural limitations, illustrating the complex nature of international legal interventions in such conflicts.