Sudan to sue UAE in US and international courts, justice minister says
July 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese Justice Minister Abdallah Dirif said on Thursday that the government has finalized plans to launch fresh lawsuits against the United Arab Emirates in U.S. and other international courts.
The announcement came a day after Sudan’s deputy UN representative, Ammar Mohamed Mahmoud, urged the International Criminal Court to expand its investigation into Rapid Support Forces (RSF) crimes in Darfur to include Emirati actors.
Dirif said in a press statement that the legal strategies involve prosecuting the UAE in countries whose legal systems allow the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity, even if committed abroad.
The minister outlined three distinct legal paths: international prosecution, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice.
A specialized committee of internal and external legal experts has mapped out these processes to target both the UAE and the RSF under international law, Dirif said.
The planned lawsuits cover war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, illegal weapons supply, mercenary recruitment, and training.
Dirif, who chairs the high committee tracking international lawsuits against the RSF and its backers, visited an exhibition of captured weapons alongside an evidence collection subcommittee.
The minister said the visit aimed to document captured advanced weaponry, which includes suicide and strategic drones seized from the paramilitary group.
He stated that the seized weapons are modern models manufactured between June 2023 and 2026, with documentation showing their initial destination was the UAE.
The transfer of these weapons to a rebel militia violates international treaties prohibiting arms transfers to third parties, Dirif added.
Sudan has repeatedly presented evidence implicating the UAE in supplying weapons and recruiting mercenaries for the RSF, allegations that Abu Dhabi continues to deny.
Dirif emphasized that Sudan will persist with its legal battles, asserting that the government holds sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prosecute both the RSF and the UAE.