International Court of Justice statement on Sudan’s complaint against the UAE
Yesterday evening, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) published a press release regarding Sudan’s complaint against the UAE for its involvement in genocide in Sudan through its support for the Rapid Support Militia (RSM).
Below is the full statement
Press release from the International Court of Justice
No: 2025/11
The Hague, March 6, 2025
Sudan yesterday filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to institute proceedings against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in relation to a dispute over alleged violations by the UAE of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) with respect to the Masalit community in Sudan, particularly in West Darfur.
Sudan’s request concerns acts “committed by an organization known as the RSF and allied militias, including, but not limited to, genocide, murder, looting of property, rape, forced displacement, trespassing, vandalism of public property, and human rights violations.”
According to Sudan, all of these acts were committed and facilitated with direct support provided by the UAE to the rebel RSF and associated militias. The request also includes acts adopted, approved, undertaken, and carried out by the UAE government in relation to the genocide against the Masalit community in the Republic of Sudan since at least 2023.
Sudan asserts that the UAE is implicated in the genocide against the Masalit by providing extensive financial, political, and military support to the rebel RSF.
In establishing the Court’s jurisdiction, Sudan relies on Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and Article IX of the Genocide Convention, to which both Sudan and the UAE are parties.
Sudan also filed a request for provisional measures under Article 41 of the Court’s Statute and Articles 73 and 75 of the Court’s Rules.
Sudan’s demands from the court:
Pending a final judgment in the case, Sudan requests the Court to take the following interim measures:
In accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, the UAE must take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of any acts falling within the scope of Article II of this Convention, in particular:
(a) Killing members of the group.
(b) Causing serious physical or psychological harm to members of the group.
(c) Deliberately imposing on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its total or partial destruction.
(d) Imposing measures aimed at preventing births within the group.
The UAE shall, with respect to members of the Masalit community, ensure that any irregular armed units that may be directed or supported by it, or any organizations or persons that may be under its control, direction, or influence, do not commit any of the acts mentioned in (1) above, conspire to commit genocide, directly and publicly incite genocide, attempt genocide, or complicity in genocide.
According to Article 74 of the Rules of Court, “a request for the indication of provisional measures must take precedence over all other cases.”
Notes:
Documents related to the case, including the application filed and the full lawsuit, can be found on the court’s website
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