UAE Calls Sudanese Army’s Allegations “Baseless” at ICJ

UAE Denounces Sudanese Army’s Allegations as “Baseless” at ICJ

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) firmly rejected the allegations presented by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, on April 13. According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sudanese Army’s assertions were not substantiated by any reliable evidence, revealing the case to be weak, devoid of legal substance, and factually unfounded.

The UAE delegation emphasized during the hearing that the ICJ’s jurisdiction over the matter was unfounded. While demonstrating respect for international law and the Court’s tenets, the UAE underlined that its reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention was an act of state sovereignty. The UAE further claimed that it took part in the proceedings because of respect for the ICJ and its function in enforcing international justice, not because it was required to by law.

The UAE’s humanitarian operations in Sudan, which have been going on since the beginning of the crisis, were also underlined by the foreign ministry. In order to provide the Sudanese people with more than USD 600 million in aid, the UAE has actively collaborated with the UN and other partners. The United Arab Emirates has also set up field hospitals in neighboring countries, such as South Sudan and Chad, to aid people escaping the fighting. Regardless of gender, race, religion, or political affiliation, these facilities treat everyone.

In the statement, the United Arab Emirates reiterated its long-standing stance that the dispute between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) cannot be resolved militarily.

The UAE has consistently called for accountability for violations of international law by both parties to the conflict, humanitarian pauses to facilitate the delivery of assistance, and accountability. In addition, the UAE continues to support a peaceful political process and has participated in several regional and international mediation efforts, including discussions in Switzerland, Jeddah and Manama.

The team from the UAE also drew attention to the Sudanese Army’s refusal to participate in peace negotiations, drawing a comparison with the UAE’s continuous attempts to find a peaceful settlement. The SAF has turned off chances to resume talks in favor of a military triumph, despite multiple international appeals for communication.

Reem Ketait, the Deputy Assistant Minister of Political Affairs in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-Agent for the UAE at the ICJ, spoke immediately after the hearing. She criticized the Sudanese Armed Forces’ application as a baseless and misleading attempt to distort the Genocide Convention and shift responsibility for their own actions. The SAF’s legal action, according to Ketait, is a “PR stunt” intended to divert attention away from their own crimes and transgressions of international law.

“The SAF’s application to the ICJ was an attempt to avoid accountability for the atrocities they have committed, including extrajudicial killings, chemical attacks on civilians, and blocking humanitarian aid,” said UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands Ameirah Obaid AlHefeiti. Instead of aiding international peace efforts, she denounced the Sudanese Armed Forces for manipulating the Court for political ends.

The UAE reiterated that its primary concern is the welfare of the Sudanese people, emphasizing the need for a civilian-led government and a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The UAE has long called for an end to the violence and for efforts to ensure the dignity and rights of the Sudanese people.