IS SUDAN A FACTOR IN ICJ JUDGE'S RESIGNATION?

On 11 June, Somali-born International Court of Justice judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, who dissented from the court’s recent decision to dismiss Sudan’s g*nocide case, tendered an early resignation, effective 30 September. His term would have ended on 5 February 2027.

Many have speculated that the court's ruling led to his decision.

Since the outbreak of Sudan’s proxy war on 15 April 2023, overwhelming evidence has implicated the United Arab Emirates as primarily backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, who stand accused of g*nocide.

Among the mounting pieces of evidence are on-the-ground findings of weapons marked as originating from Abu Dhabi in recaptured RSF-occupied areas, alongside a New York Times investigative report that used satellite images to track arms shipments allegedly disguised as humanitarian aid from the UAE through the Chadian border.

Sudan’s military government accused the UAE of enabling the RSF to commit g*nocide against the indigenous non-Arab peoples of Darfur. However, it is worth noting many have accused both warring parties, the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), of committing atrocities against civilians.

The foreign-backed proxy war has led to the collapse of the country’s social fabric and infrastructure, triggering one of the 21st-century’s worst humanitarian and displacement crises, according to the UN. The proxy war has k*lled as many as 150,000, per former US envoy Tom Perriello. Over 30 million people, or 65 per cent, now face ‘acute hunger.’ 

Do you think the ICJ’s ruling influenced Yusuf’s decision?