The UN’s top court dismisses Sudan’s genocide case alleging UAE funded rebel paramilitaries
PBS NewsHourMAY 9
ICJ Dismisses Sudan's Genocide Case Against UAE
Above: UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands Ameirah Al Hefeiti speaks to journalists in the Hague on May 5, 2025, following the ruling in Sudan's case over alleged complicity in genocide. Image copyright: Lex van Lieshout/Contributor/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The ICJ's ruling exposes a dangerous loophole that enables states to avoid accountability for complicity in genocide by exploiting legal technicalities. Allowing blanket reservations to Article IX undermines the Genocide Convention's core purpose: holding states judicially accountable. This decision risks silencing genocide while protecting powerful actors from scrutiny.
Narrative B
The court's decision correctly upholds international legal principles regarding state sovereignty and treaty obligations. Sudan's case was a transparent attempt to weaponize international courts for political purposes and to deflect attention from its own military's conduct in the devastating civil war. The international community should focus on ending the conflict rather than pursuing baseless legal claims.
Narrative C
Despite the ICJ's dismissal of Sudan's case on jurisdictional grounds, credible reports suggest the UAE is complicit in Sudan's war. Investigations by experts and U.S. lawmakers indicate the UAE supplied arms and drones to the RSF, fueling the conflict. Leaked documents and eyewitness accounts point to direct Emirati involvement on the ground.