The Sudanese Alliance for Rights takes note of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision on 5 May 2025 to dismiss Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates on jurisdictional grounds. While the allegations of grave violations in Darfur warrant thorough and impartial investigation, we believe the people of Sudan are already enduring immense suffering and need more than legal manoeuvres. They need peace, protection, and meaningful action at the moment.
We therefore urge the de facto Sudanese government to shift its focus from finger-pointing on the international stage to urgent peacebuilding efforts at home. The priority must be to end the conflict, safeguard civilians, and restore dignity to those whose lives have been shattered by violence.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating civil war that has led to:
• Over 24,000 deaths, with some estimates suggesting the true toll could be significantly higher.
• More than 13 million people displaced, marking one of the largest displacement crises globally.
• At least 10,000–15,000 Masalit civilians killed in ethnically targeted massacres in West Darfur.
• Widespread sexual violence, with numerous reports of rape and gang rape used as weapons of war.
• A collapsing health system, with over 70% of facilities non-functional and famine conditions confirmed in multiple regions.
These atrocities are not mere statistics; they represent countless lives disrupted, families torn apart, and communities destroyed. In West Darfur, survivors of ethnic violence are still searching for missing loved ones, sheltering in dire conditions, and waiting for justice that feels increasingly out of reach.
We call on the de facto Sudanese government to engage meaningfully with ongoing regional and international peace efforts and to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ending the war. These include the IGAD-led mediation, the Jeddah talks facilitated by the United States and Saudi Arabia, the African Union’s Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, and the work of the IGAD Quartet. Most recently, the de facto government declined to participate in a UK-led international conference in London in April 2025, aimed at establishing a new contact group to revive ceasefire negotiations. Such missed opportunities only deepen the suffering and prolong the war.
Justice and accountability are essential, but they must go hand-in-hand with sincere efforts to heal the nation, rebuild trust, and lay the foundation for a democratic and inclusive Sudan. The path forward must be built on peace, compassion, and the courage to confront the suffering within our own borders—not only to seek blame beyond them.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
7 May 2025