Sudan's paramilitary RSF chief sentenced to death over war crimes
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was convicted in absentia along with 15 RSF commanders and allies.
Sudan's RSF Leader Sentenced to Death for War Crimes
A Sudanese court has handed down a death sentence in absentia to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide related to atrocities in the West Darfur region. The ruling was made by a court in Port Sudan, which is currently under military control, and also included 15 other senior RSF officials who received the same sentence.
The Sudan Founding Alliance, which encompasses the RSF, described the trial as a "sham" and stated it "does not even deserve a comment" in a statement to the BBC. The trial focused on alleged crimes in the regional capital of el-Geneina, including the murder of state governor Khamis Abbakar in June 2023.
The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks on civilians, extensive destruction and looting of property, 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 the RSF's commander in West Darfur, Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah.
While the RSF has not yet issued a direct response to the verdict, it has previously denied allegations of war crimes during the ongoing conflict. Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin ordered the confiscation of all RSF assets and directed authorities to pursue Interpol Red Notices for the arrest and extradition of the convicted individuals.
This ruling marks the first judicial conviction of RSF leadership since the onset of civil war, but its implications remain uncertain as the group continues to control significant areas of western Sudan, with its leaders still evading military capture. Hemedti's current location is unknown.
UN investigators and human rights organizations have accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of conducting ethnically targeted assaults against the Masalit community in Darfur. Earlier this month, the deputy chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stated that they possess "concrete evidence" linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
A Human Rights Watch report released in May 2024 indicated that the violence in and around el-Geneina from April to November 2023 resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. The organization characterized the abuses as war crimes and crimes against humanity, part of an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Masalit and other non-Arab groups.
Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have been accused of human rights violations and war crimes. Last year, UN investigators found that both parties targeted civilians and essential infrastructure, including medical facilities, in large-scale assaults.
Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023 following a brutal power struggle between Sudanese army leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced an estimated 12 million people, with aid agencies reporting that around 28 million individuals are facing severe hunger.