Sudan filed a lawsuit against the UAE in the ICJ for alleged genocide complicity against the Masalit community. The complaint cites the UAE’s support of the RSF for multiple violent acts. The UAE dismisses the case as baseless. A report linked to the conflict notes that genocide against non-Arab groups continues, reflecting a long-standing humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
On Thursday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) revealed that Sudan has initiated legal proceedings against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sudan accuses the UAE of complicity in genocide against the Masalit, a black African community in West Darfur, by allegedly supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and associated militias responsible for numerous violent acts.
Sudan alleges that the RSF, with substantial backing from the UAE, has engaged in horrific acts including genocide, murder, property theft, rape, forced displacement, and human rights violations. The Sudanese government has called for the ICJ to enforce provisional measures requiring the UAE to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention, particularly in preventing further harm to the Masalit population.
In response, the UAE seeks an immediate dismissal of the case, labeling it “baseless.” An Emirati official criticized the Sudanese application as a distraction from the Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) own wrongdoing, framing it as a publicity stunt to divert attention from the ongoing atrocities within Sudan.
A report from the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights in April 2024 described the situation as dire, indicating that the RSF and associated militias have continuously perpetrated genocide against the Masalit and other Non-Arab groups. The report implicated several nation-states, including the UAE, in this complicity, along with the involvement of the Wagner Group, a private military company linked to Russia.
The report emphasizes that all signatories of the Genocide Convention bear legal obligations to prevent and halt acts of genocide, which includes addressing their own complicity. This situation has historical roots, with the ongoing conflict arising from the Darfur crisis that started in 2003, where the government and allied militias brutally retaliated against non-Arab groups, leading to mass killings and displacements.
The US has previously categorized these actions as genocide under the UN Genocide Convention, leading to an arrest warrant issued against former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir due to his role in directing mass killings. The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war has been prevalent, with numerous reports of widespread rape during conflicts, significantly affecting women in Sudan.
UNICEF reported alarming statistics indicating a rise in child rape cases in Sudan, with 220 incidents documented in early 2024 alone, further illustrating the dire humanitarian crisis and challenges faced by civilians amidst ongoing violence.
The ICJ proceedings initiated by Sudan against the UAE highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from historical conflicts in Darfur. With serious allegations of genocide and related atrocities against the Masalit community, this case underscores the complexities surrounding international law, genocide, and the responsibilities of nation-states under such treaties. The situation remains critical, with calls for stronger measures to address human rights violations and protect vulnerable populations.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
