A Sudanese court has sentenced Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, to death over alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide linked to violence in West Darfur.
The court in Port Sudan convicted Hemedti and 15 other senior RSF members. The verdict also included his brother and RSF deputy leader Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, another brother Al Qoni Hamdan Dagalo, and West Darfur commander Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah.
The court delivered the ruling while all defendants remained absent. Their current locations remain unknown.
Court Accuses RSF Leaders of West Darfur Atrocities
The trial focused on attacks in el Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, during 2023. Prosecutors accused RSF forces and allied groups of carrying out deadly attacks against civilians.
The court said the defendants organized attacks that caused widespread destruction, property theft, and damage to schools, religious sites, homes and civilian areas.
The judges also ordered the confiscation of RSF assets. They asked authorities to request Interpol Red Notices to help arrest and extradite those convicted.
RSF Rejects War Crimes Allegations
The RSF has not responded to the latest court decision. However, the group has previously denied accusations of war crimes during the conflict.
The ruling marks the first major judicial conviction against RSF leadership since Sudan’s civil war began in April 2023.
Despite the verdict, its practical impact remains uncertain because the RSF still controls large areas in western Sudan and its leaders remain outside army control.
International Groups Report Serious Human Rights Abuses
United Nations investigators and human rights organisations have accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of targeting the Masalit community and other non Arab groups in Darfur.
A recent investigation by international authorities found evidence connecting RSF leaders to serious violations during the conflict.
Human Rights Watch reported that violence around el Geneina between April and November 2023 killed thousands of people and forced hundreds of thousands to leave their homes.
The organisation said the attacks included war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to an ethnic cleansing campaign.
Sudan Civil War Causes Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan entered a devastating civil war in April 2023 after a power struggle between army chief General Abdel Fattah al Burhan and RSF leader Hemedti.
Both the Sudanese army and RSF have faced accusations of attacking civilians and damaging important facilities, including hospitals and other essential services.
The conflict has killed more than 150,000 people and forced around 12 million others to flee their homes. Aid agencies warn that nearly 28 million people are facing severe hunger because of the ongoing crisis.
The death sentence against Hemedti represents a major legal challenge for the RSF leadership, but the conflict continues to shape Sudan’s future as fighting remains active across several regions.
