Sudanese Court Sentences RSF Leader Hemedti to Death

A Sudanese anti-terrorism court in Port Sudan sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and 15 other senior members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to death in absentia on Sunday. The court convicted Dagalo, his brothers Abdelrahim and Al-Qouni, and several commanders—including West Darfur commander Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah—of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The convictions center on atrocities committed in June 2023 in West Darfur, specifically in El Geneina. The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks on civilians, looting, and targeting schools and places of worship. A primary focus of the case was the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar, who was murdered after accusing the RSF and allied militias of slaughtering civilians from the non-Arab Masalit tribe.

Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin Al Bazzaz ordered the confiscation of all RSF assets and requested Interpol Red Notices for the arrest and extradition of the convicts. This represents the first judicial verdict against RSF leadership since the conflict between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese army began in April 2023. The court intends to refer the case to the Supreme Court for review.

The RSF has denied responsibility for the governor's death and rejected all allegations of genocide. While the ruling signals the government's legal stance, critics have described the proceedings as selective justice, alleging the court is politically motivated and ignores similar violations committed by the Sudanese army.