UAE trashes Sudan army's claims about genocide 'complicity', claims SAF trying to divert attention

The UAE has dismissed the allegations by Sudan that it is "complicit in the genocide" during the African country's ongoing civil war. UAE clarified its stance during a hearing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) failed to provide credible evidence for the case, which lacked legal basis.

The SAF had alleged that the UAE has been supplying weapons to the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a bid to commit genocide against non-Arab groups, including the Massalit population in West Darfur. Sudan said the UAE gave drone training to the RSF and helped recruit mercenaries.

More than 1,50,000 have been killed in the civil war than began in 2023 and over 12 million have been displaced from their homes.

The UAE said it has been working tirelessly to help the Sudanese people ever since the conflict began and has delivered more than $600 million in aid by engaging with partners like the United Nations. The delegation added that the Emirates has set up field hospitals in neighbouring countries like Chad and South Sudan to help the refugees fleeing from Sudan.

“We [the UAE] should not be here today. There is clearly no basis for the Court’s jurisdiction in this case. The UAE’s reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention is a legitimate exercise of state sovereignty. The country participates today out of respect for the Court and the principles of international law and justice, even as it firmly maintains a consistent position on jurisdiction,” the UAE delegation said.

Explaining its stance, UAE said it has called for a ceasefire to allow delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as bring accountability for violations of international law by the rival sides: the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. “The UAE has called for a political process to transition to civilian rule, and it supported and engaged in regional and international mediation efforts to bring an end to the fighting, from Jeddah, to Manama, to US-led mediation efforts last year in Switzerland,” it added.

The Emirates delegation accused the SAF of skipping negotiations mediated by the US in Switzerland as well as other talks in Manama and Jeddah. “The SAF rushes to this podium in The Hague, but for two years it has left its seat at the negotiation table empty,” the delegation claimed.

Responding to the case, Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Co-Agent, called the allegations “a cynical PR stunt” aimed at diverting attention from the SAF’s own record of atrocities.

"...We reiterate, this is a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, we support no party. We support peace, humanitarian aid, and a return to civilian government,” she said.

Echoing Ketait's sentiments, Ameirah Obaid AlHefeiti, the UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands and the UAE Court Agent, said the SAF is trying to distract every one from “its own legal and moral responsibility for its criminal acts and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis” in Sudan. She claimed that SAF is using the ICJ for its political self-interest instead of working towards peace. “The Sudanese people deserve peace and dignity, and deserve a civilian-led government that puts their interests and their priorities first and foremost,” the envoy added.

Earlier this year, the US had accused the RSF of committing genocide and imposed sanctions on the faction head, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.