Today's Edition
CAPITALS (WAM)
International media outlets have described the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the UAE as a firm rejection of what they see as an attempt to deflect responsibility for the ongoing conflict.
Commentators and analysts emphasised that the SAF should have prioritised ending the senseless war, and worked with regional and international partners to restore stability in Sudan.
Various international media outlets highlighted in their coverage the dire humanitarian consequences of the ongoing civil war in Sudan.
Reports described the situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
CNN reported that the ICJ dismissed Sudan’s case alleging that the UAE violated the Genocide Convention. CNN quoted Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as saying, "This decision is a clear and decisive affirmation of the fact that this case was utterly baseless."
"The Court’s finding that it is without jurisdiction confirms that this case should never have been brought," Ketait has said.
"Quite simply, today’s decision represents a resounding rejection of the SAF’s attempt to instrumentalise the Court for its campaign of misinformation and to distract from its own responsibility," she added.
The Associated Press (AP) reported on the bloody conflict that Sudan descended into in mid-April 2023, referring to the case filed by Sudan against the UAE, which the court decided to dismiss after "judges found that the International Court of Justice lacked the authority to continue the proceedings".
The Guardian published an article stating that the ICJ rejected and struck the case entirely its list. The paper quoted Reem Ketait's statement, who said, "The facts speak for themselves: the UAE bears no responsibility for the conflict in Sudan. On the contrary, the atrocities committed by the warring parties are well documented."
"The conflict, which has been ongoing since April 2023, has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises despite international peace efforts," The Guardian reported.
Russia Today reported that the UAE government welcomed the decision, calling it a "categorical rejection of Sudan’s false claim." It quoted Reem Ketait's statement: "The decision clearly and unequivocally confirms that the case is without merit… [It] represents a decisive rejection of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ attempt to exploit the court to spread misinformation and divert attention from its responsibility in the conflict".
In its coverage, Al-Arab newspaper described the ICJ’s dismissal of the SAF's lawsuit as a political victory for the UAE, in the face of the SAF's attempts to deflect attention from its role in initiating and prolonging the war, and stalling progress toward a political agreement despite multiple regional and international initiatives.
The paper also quoted observers as saying the Sudanese military’s legal complaint against the UAE represented a tactic to buy time, and avoid accountability for its failure to achieve stability following the army’s coup against the democratic transition and civilian rule, a move that triggered a civil war in April 2023.
Several journalists and political observers criticised the legal action filed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s team, stating it reflected a lack of understanding of diplomatic and legal frameworks, and was based on a weak, unsubstantiated file that clearly aimed to divert attention from the military's failures.
They stressed that the group behind the lawsuit does not represent Sudan or the will of its people, who continue to suffer the devastating consequences of the war. Meanwhile, this faction, they said, has been pursuing political gains at the expense of the Sudanese people.
They reiterated that the SAF should have focused on ending the senseless conflict, and engaged regional and international allies to support Sudan’s stability.
They also highlighted that the UAE’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts stand as clear testimony to its active and constructive role in supporting the Sudanese people.
