Sudanese government spokesman attacks the UAE

The Sudanese government spokesman accused the UAE of aiding militias "committing crimes against humanity," noting that his country had taken a "civilized approach" by resorting to the International Court of Justice to prosecute them.

"Today, Sudan has presented its just cause to the international judiciary, before the highest court in the world," Al-Aiser said in statements carried by the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA). "It is a civilized and advanced approach to confronting the UAE, whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent women, children, youth and the elderly, and which has helped militias commit massacres and crimes against humanity, including rape, displacement, homelessness and the destruction of infrastructure."

He added: "It is a step that expresses the antiquity of the Sudanese people and their civilization, which is deeply rooted in history. It is a civilization that stretches back thousands of years before Christ, and which was sought to be obliterated by a state whose entity did not come into existence until 1971, and which was founded only fifty-four years ago."

He pointed out that "when the University of Khartoum was established in Sudan in 1902 under the name Gordon Memorial College, the UAE was still taking its first steps towards development."

He continued, "How simple history and modern experience! Even in crime, the UAE has not yet reached the level of concealing the traces of crime, due to its extreme newness in everything, even in transgressions and the commission of crimes."

Sudanese government spokesman and Minister of Information Khaled Al-Aiser concluded by saying, "Greetings to the Sudanese expert team represented by the international claims committee against the rebel Rapid Support Forces militia, its leaders, and the countries supporting it, and greetings to the great Sudanese people."

Earlier on Thursday, UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands, Amira Al Hefeiti, affirmed that the UAE's position "is firm towards the Sudanese people and stands in solidarity with them during the difficult circumstances they are going through." She also condemned "the outrageous allegations and systematic campaign waged by the Sudanese Armed Forces, which are completely baseless."

Al-Hefeiti explained that the Sudanese Armed Forces "exploit international platforms to pursue narrow interests, believing this will grant them legitimacy and divert attention from the crimes and atrocities they are committing inside Sudan." She noted that the UAE "is committed to international law and insists on the need for legal accountability for crimes committed by both warring parties."

The International Court of Justice in The Hague announced on Thursday the commencement of its deliberations in the case filed by Sudan against the UAE, which relates to "violation of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention of Genocide through its support for the Rapid Support Forces," according to the Sudanese lawsuit.

The court stated that it would begin its deliberations, and that the date of the public session at which the decision would be issued would be announced in due course.

Sudan accuses the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces, which are fighting alongside the Sudanese army, and holds it responsible for "killings and forced displacement." Abu Dhabi, however, says that since the war began in 2023, it has "not provided weapons to any party to the conflict, but has instead been committed to providing humanitarian support to the Sudanese people."

Sudan requested the court "issue provisional measures requiring the UAE to take steps to prevent the commission of any acts that may amount to the crime of genocide against the Masalit community in Darfur, in addition to refraining from providing any support to irregular armed groups."

For its part, the UAE denounced the complaint filed by Sudan with the International Court of Justice, stating that it lacks any legal or factual basis and represents yet another attempt to divert attention from the disastrous war in Sudan. The UAE noted that the court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the lawsuit filed by Sudan against it, accusing it of violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The UAE told the International Court of Justice judges that its alleged violation of the Genocide Convention by arming and financing the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces constitutes an abuse of the UN body.

It is noteworthy that both Sudan and the UAE are signatories to the agreement.

However, the UAE has reservations about part of the treaty, and legal experts say it is unlikely the case will continue.

Sudan descended into bloody conflict in mid-April 2023 when tensions between the army and paramilitary rebels erupted in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other areas.