Sudan has filed a case against the UAE in the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the genocide convention by supporting the Rapid Support Forces, a rebel militia. Allegations include genocide and human rights violations targeting the Masalit people. Sudan seeks urgent measures to prevent further violence, as the conflict has led to thousands of deaths and mass displacement of civilians.
Sudan has formally lodged a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of violating the genocide convention by financially and militarily supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This allegation comes amid Sudan’s deadly war, which has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread displacement of its populace. The ICJ disclosed the case during a recent announcement, indicating that it was submitted on Wednesday.
The allegations against the RSF and its allied militias include serious violations such as genocide, murder, theft, rape, and the forcible displacement of the Masalit people. Sudan contends that the UAE has played a crucial role in complicitly facilitating these acts through substantial financial, political, and military support for the rebel group, thereby endangering vulnerable populations in the region.
In light of the ongoing violence, which has resulted in over 24,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 14 million individuals, Sudan is seeking urgent provisional measures from the ICJ. These measures would require the UAE to take all necessary actions to prevent further killings and crimes against the Masalit community. The conflict, which erupted in mid-April 2023, stemmed from escalating tensions between military factions and paramilitary rebels in Khartoum, leading to a deep humanitarian crisis.
Recent developments include the RSF signing a charter aimed at establishing a parallel governance structure, in response to military advances against them. The Conflict Observatory, supported by the U.S. State Department, has been tracking arms transfers from the UAE to the RSF, identifying flights that allegedly transported these materials. Although the UAE has claimed these operations were intended to support medical facilities, evidence suggests otherwise.
The United States has already imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, along with several companies linked to the RSF in the UAE, in response to their involvement in alleged genocidal acts. Histories of violence in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, highlight a legacy of severe human rights violations and the need for international accountability. The ICJ’s rulings, while binding, often take years to reach a conclusion, leaving urgent matters unresolved for extended periods.
In summary, Sudan’s case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice highlights serious allegations of complicity in genocide through the support of armed groups. The claims, if proven, call for international accountability and action to prevent further atrocities against vulnerable populations, particularly the Masalit people. The ongoing humanitarian crisis underscores the need for urgent intervention and the importance of international law in addressing such grave violations.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
