International Court of Appeal rejects Genocide Zak Sudan against Emiraten: ‘No authority’

The International Court of Appeal has rejected the genocide branch against the United Arab Emirates (VAE), brought by Sudan. The Court states that it is ‘not authorized’ to judge in this case. That is what the International Court of Appeal in The Hague has Monday announced.

The indictment revolved around a serious accusation against the United Arab Emirates. According to the Sudanese authorities, the country is complicit in genocide against the Masalit population in the Darfur region. The VAE provides support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary militia that has been fighting a bloody war with the government army for two years. Sudan therefore wanted the Court of Appeal to take « emergency measures » against VAE.

Human Rights Watch and the United States, among others, state that the actions of the RSF against the Masalit population amount to genocide.

No jurisdiction

According to Sudan, the VAE violated the Genocide Convention from 1948 with their support to the RSF. The VAE acknowledges this treaty, but did arrange a reservation when signing, which means that the Court of Appeal is less likely to have jurisdiction – judicial power – across the country.

Although the Court indicates that he is ‘great concern’ about the suffering in Sudan, the judges cannot now go along with that reservation in Sudan’s request to take measures, as can be read in judgment. « The violent conflict has a devastating effect, » the court writes, but the jurisdiction of the Court is « necessarily limited. »

The lawsuit followed a series of alarming reports, diplomatic warnings and journalistic revelations About the military, economic and political involvement of the UAE in the apparently hopeless war in Sudan. From research by The New York Times It appears that the VAE secretly armed, care and strengthen the RSF, under the guise of humanitarian aid.

The United Arab Emirates deny this support and called the indictment of Sudan « nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt. » « This case should never have come to the court, » said a representative of the VAE after the ruling to present reporters, writes AP news agency. « The judgment of the Court underlines that. »

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