![Sudan's Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan speaks during the opening session of the First National Economic Conference in the capital Khartoum on September 26, 2020. [Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gettyimages-1228716285-2048x2048-1.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)
However, the ministry stressed that the court’s decision was based on procedural grounds and did not reject the serious accusations.
In a statement, the ministry explained that the ICJ found it lacked jurisdiction due to the UAE’s reservation to Article 9 of the Genocide Convention. This article forms the basis for the ICJ’s jurisdiction in disputes concerning the interpretation, application, or fulfillment of the convention.
The UAE’s reservation requires its consent for the court to hear such cases, which was not given. As a result, the court dismissed Sudan’s request for provisional measures by a narrow 9-7 vote.
Sudan had asked the ICJ to issue urgent measures to halt what it described as UAE-backed genocide by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur and other regions. While the court declined to intervene, the foreign ministry insisted the ruling did not equate to a rejection of Sudan’s evidence or a declaration of the UAE’s innocence.
“The dismissal of the case on jurisdictional grounds does not legally absolve the UAE of responsibility,” the statement read. “Jurisdiction is a preliminary and procedural issue in international law. It is entirely separate from assessing the facts or determining international responsibility.”
The ministry noted that the ICJ did not examine the substantial evidence presented by Sudan’s legal team, which it said clearly indicated the UAE’s role in fueling the ongoing conflict by supplying advanced weapons to the RSF.
Sudan argued these weapons prolonged the conflict and enabled widespread atrocities against civilians.
Despite the setback, Sudan expressed satisfaction that filing the case and submitting detailed evidence had helped expose what it called the UAE’s role in the Sudanese conflict.
The statement pointed to increasing international concern over Emirati involvement, citing investigative journalism, reports from international organizations, and discussions in Western legislatures as signs of growing global awareness.
The ministry also referenced a letter sent to the ICJ by several former judges from international genocide tribunals and respected legal experts, which supported Sudan’s position and urged greater accountability.
“The legal battle is not over,” the ministry said. “Sudan will continue to pursue all available legal avenues to protect its people, state, and institutions.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming Sudan’s commitment to seeking justice through international law, warning that the UAE’s documented support for what it described as a terrorist militia “must be a question of if, but when” accountability occurs.
