Article: Sudan accuses UAE of ‘support and complicity’ in genocide at World Court
his article circulates around the recent developments of Sudanese-UAE tensions following the ICJ complaint Sudan filed against the UAE. In their complaint filed im March, Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates of violating the Genocide Convention by funding RSF’s paramilitary operations through Chad. The hearing for this case began four days ago. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied these accusations and cited them as politically motivated. Sudan’s civil war in a nutshell is a two year old armed conflict between rival military factions: The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The RSF, according to Sudanese government and the SAF, has been carrying out a genocide against the people in the western Darfur region. Interestingly, the US has assessed the attacks against the Masalit people in the Darfur region, and have agreed with the situation being genocidal. But this article also cites from the UAE’s perspective that these claims are simply for the political gains to stray focus on the conflict away from the atrocities the SAF has committed, and the fact that Sudan has refused any ceasefire attempts with the RSF. The rest of the article highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis of the Sudanese people due to this conflict, pointing out that the USAID cuts directly decrease as much as 200,000 Sudanese people’s access to clean drinking water and other supplies. As we learned in class about ICJ cases, they take up to years before a ruling is met. Obviously it is too early to determine how the ruling may go or who it will side with, but it is worth noting there’s tangible evidence that the UAE has funded the RSF with weapons and supported them economically, despite their denial of such. Additionally, the SAF has repeatedly refused ceasefire possibilities with the RSF, as both factions seek military dominance in western and central Sudan. Because of this, it is possible that the eventual ruling may mention a clause or complaint against Sudan’s partaking in the humanitarian crisis. Overall, I think this ICJ case shows how a struggling and war torn state such as Sudan has little to no options in gaining humanitarian aid, especially in a time where President Trump has cut off the United States’ USAID funding as well as funding to the UN World Food Program.