A Sudanese court has sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in the West Darfur region.
The court in Port Sudan convicted Dagalo, known as Hemedti, in absentia, along with 15 other senior RSF members, who received the same sentence. The trial centered on alleged atrocities in the regional capital el-Geneina, including the June 2023 killing of the state governor, Khamis Abbakar.
War Crimes in Sudan
The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks on civilians, widespread destruction, and looting of property, as well as targeting schools, places of worship, and residential neighborhoods. Among those sentenced were Hemedti’s brother and deputy, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, and the RSF’s West Darfur commander, Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah.
The RSF has not directly commented on the verdict, but has previously rejected accusations of war crimes during the conflict. The ruling is the first judicial conviction of the RSF’s leadership since the civil war broke out in April 2023.
UN investigators and human rights organizations have accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of carrying out ethnically targeted attacks against the Masalit population in Darfur. The International Criminal Court’s deputy chief prosecutor said they have “concrete evidence” linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
Aftermath and Implications
The impact of the ruling remains unclear, as the RSF continues to control large parts of western Sudan, and its leaders remain beyond the reach of the army. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and 12 million displaced people, with aid agencies warning of acute hunger affecting 28 million people.
The sentencing is a significant development in the ongoing conflict, but its effectiveness in holding those responsible accountable remains to be seen. The international community will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and whether justice can be served in a region plagued by violence and instability.
