The International Court of Justice has dismissed Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates, rejecting claims that the UAE was complicit in genocide during Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

In a ruling issued today at The Hague, the UN’s highest court declared it lacked jurisdiction to hear Sudan’s lawsuit, effectively throwing out the case. Sudan had accused the UAE of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, alleging that Emirati aid was fueling acts of genocide in the conflict. The UAE has strongly denied those accusations.

A spokesperson for the UAE, Reem Ketait, welcomed the decision, calling it, quote, ‘a clear and decisive affirmation that the case was utterly baseless.’ Ketait had earlier accused Sudan of filing the suit as a distraction from its own record of abuses against civilians.

Outside the Peace Palace, small groups of Sudanese protesters voiced their anger, holding signs reading ‘UAE kills Sudan.’ One protester, 57-year-old engineer Hisham Fadl Akasha, told reporters, quote, ‘We feel completely disappointed… we only ask for justice.’

The ICJ did not rule on the substance of the allegations but expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The court noted that despite its decision, all countries remain obligated under international law to uphold the Genocide Convention.

The ongoing conflict, now in its second year, continues to ravage Sudan, displacing millions and causing widespread hunger. Just yesterday, the RSF launched a drone strike on Port Sudan—the first attack on the government’s new stronghold since the fighting began.

Sudan’s government had asked the court to order the UAE to halt support for the RSF and pay reparations to victims, but today’s ruling leaves those demands unmet. We will continue to follow developments in Sudan as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

Reporting by Ehud Jones