Sudan Breaks Diplomatic Ties with UAE Amid Ongoing Civil Conflict
On Tuesday, Sudan severed its diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), labeling the Gulf monarchy as an 'aggressor state.' This significant shift follows longstanding accusations from Sudan that the UAE has been supporting the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), against which the Sudanese military junta has been engaged in a brutal civil war for the past two years.
The UAE has consistently denied its involvement in the conflict; however, multiple investigations by UN experts and journalists have found the claims made by Sudan to be credible. The recent decision by Sudan to cut ties with the UAE is seen as a direct response to three days of relentless RSF bombardments in Port Sudan. This strategic port city has been serving as a refuge for the Sudanese government since Khartoum, the capital, was captured in April 2023. Although the army successfully reclaimed Khartoum at the end of March, the ongoing violence continues to impact civilian life throughout the country.
Adding to these tensions, the International Court of Justice, which represents the principal judicial body of the United Nations, dismissed a case in which Sudan accused the UAE of aiding the RSF in committing genocide against non-Arab populations in Sudan, particularly in the afflicted Darfur region. The court stated that it could not assert jurisdiction over the matter because the UAE is not a signatory to Article 9 of the Convention on Genocide, thereby shielding it from being sued by other nations for such serious allegations.
As Sudan grapples with the ramifications of this civil conflict, the severance of ties with the UAE marks a prominent shift in its diplomatic stance, potentially exacerbating the instability in the region. The allegations against the UAE reflect the deep divisions and complex alliances at play within the Sudanese theater of conflict, highlighting the broader implications for international relations in the Gulf and African regions.
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