A Sudanese court in Port Sudan has sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in West Darfur.
Trial and Convictions
- Hemedti and 15 senior RSF members, including his brothers Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo and Al‑Qoni Hamdan Dagalo, were convicted.
- The charges included orchestrating attacks on civilians, looting, destruction of property, and targeting schools and places of worship.
- The trial focused on atrocities in el‑Geneina, including the June 2023 killing of Governor Khamis Abbakar.
- Judge Mohamed Al‑Amin ordered confiscation of RSF assets and requested Interpol Red Notices for arrests.
RSF Reaction
The Sudan Founding Alliance, which includes the RSF, dismissed the ruling as a “sham trial.” The RSF itself has not directly commented but has consistently denied war crimes allegations.
Wider Context
- The verdict is the first judicial conviction of RSF leadership since Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023.
- Despite the ruling, the RSF still controls large parts of western Sudan, and Hemedti’s whereabouts remain unknown.
- UN investigators and Human Rights Watch have accused the RSF of ethnically targeted attacks against the Masalit population in Darfur.
- The ICC says it has “concrete evidence” linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
Humanitarian Toll
- More than 150,000 people have died since the war began.
- Around 12 million people have fled their homes, with 28 million facing acute hunger.
- Aid agencies warn the conflict has devastated Sudan’s civilian population.
Outlook
While the court ruling is symbolically significant, its practical impact remains uncertain given the RSF’s battlefield strength and the absence of its leaders. The conviction nonetheless marks a turning point in efforts to hold Sudan’s paramilitary leadership accountable for atrocities.