Sudanese court sentences RSF chief Hemedti to death

In a landmark ruling, a Sudanese court in Port Sudan has sentenced Mohamed Dagalo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) known as Hemedti, to death in absentia. The conviction stems from atrocities committed in West Darfur, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The court also handed down death sentences to five other senior RSF members, including Hemedti's brother and deputy, Abdelrahim Dagalo, and his brother Al-Qoni Dagalo. The RSF commander for West Darfur, Abdul Rahman Barkallah, was also among those convicted. The court further ordered the confiscation of all RSF assets and the issuance of Interpol Red Notices for the arrest and extradition of the convicted individuals.

This verdict represents the first legal conviction of RSF leaders since the outbreak of the civil war in 2023. The trial primarily focused on the RSF's alleged actions in el-Geneina, the regional capital of West Darfur, where thousands of civilians, predominantly from the Massalit ethnic community, were reportedly killed, subjected to sexual violence, and displaced. The conflict, which began as a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 150,000 deaths and 12 million people displaced.

The United Nations has identified Sudan as experiencing the world's largest health and humanitarian crisis, with rights organizations accusing the RSF of ethnically targeted attacks. While the RSF has previously rejected such allegations and described the court proceedings as a "sham trial," Hemedti's current whereabouts remain unknown.

“

The Sudan Founding Alliance, which includes the RSF, has also described the Sudan court proceedings as a “sham trial” that “does not even deserve a comment.”