Sudanese Court Issues Death Sentence for RSF Leader
A court in Port Sudan has sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in the West Darfur region. Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, was convicted along with 15 senior RSF members who received the same sentence.
The trial focused on alleged atrocities in el-Geneina, the regional capital, including the June 2023 murder of Khamis Abbakar, the state governor. The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks on civilians, looting, and targeting schools, places of worship, and residential areas. Among those sentenced were Hemedti's brother and deputy, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, another brother, Al-Qoni Hamdan Dagalo, and Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah, the RSF's West Darfur commander.
The Sudan Founding Alliance, which includes the RSF, dismissed the trial as a sham unworthy of comment. The RSF has not directly responded to the verdict but has historically denied war crimes allegations during the ongoing conflict.
Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin ordered the confiscation of all RSF assets and directed authorities to request Interpol Red Notices for the arrest and extradition of those convicted. This ruling marks the first judicial conviction of RSF leaders since the civil war began, although its practical impact is uncertain as the RSF still controls significant parts of western Sudan.
Hemedti's current location is unknown. The RSF and allied Arab militias have been accused by UN investigators and human rights groups of ethnically targeted attacks against the Masalit population in Darfur. Recently, the International Criminal Court's deputy chief prosecutor claimed to have concrete evidence linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
In May 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that campaigns in and around el-Geneina between April and November 2023 resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. The report described these actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity, part of an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Masalit and other non-Arab communities.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of human rights violations and war crimes. Last year, UN investigators found that both factions targeted civilians and critical infrastructure, including medical facilities, in large-scale attacks.
Sudan has been in turmoil since April 2023, when a violent power struggle erupted between Sudanese army leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti. The conflict has led to over 150,000 deaths and displaced an estimated 12 million people, with aid agencies warning that about 28 million people face acute hunger.
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