Sudan Sues UAE Over Alleged Genocide Financing - ICJ Rejects Case

In Sudan v. United Arab Emirates, filed at the ICJ, Sudan accuses the UAE of violating the Genocide Convention by funding paramilitary groups responsible for atrocities in Darfur. The case is in preliminary hearings, with evidence submitted by Sudanese legal teams International Court of Justice.

ICJ Rejects Sudan’s Genocide Case Against UAE Over Jurisdiction Limits

The International Court of Justice has dismissed Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates, ruling that it lacks jurisdiction to hear the allegations. Sudan had accused the UAE of violating international law by supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the ongoing civil conflict.

In its decision, the ICJ found that Sudan failed to establish a legal dispute with the UAE under the Genocide Convention, specifically Article IX, which governs jurisdiction. The Court emphasized that no prior disagreement over the interpretation or application of the treaty had been demonstrated before Sudan filed its application—a procedural requirement for admissibility.

Further complicating the matter, the UAE had entered a formal reservation to Article IX when it ratified the convention, explicitly rejecting the ICJ’s authority over genocide-related disputes unless it consents. Without a recognized dispute or jurisdictional consent, the Court concluded it “manifestly lacks jurisdiction” to proceed.

The ruling underscores the limitations of treaty-based litigation in international courts, particularly when reservations shield states from compulsory adjudication.