Sudanese Court Issues Death Sentences to RSF Commander Hemedti and 15 Others in Absentia

A Sudanese court on Sunday sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as “Hemedti,” and 15 other individuals to death in absentia following convictions related to the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar and atrocities in El Geneina.

The ruling, delivered by the Anti-Terrorism and Crimes Against the State Court in Port Sudan, represents the first judicial verdict against Hemedti since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF erupted on April 15, 2023.

The court imposed death sentences by hanging on Hemedti, his deputy and brother Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, and additional defendants. Charges included war crimes, crimes against humanity, offenses against persons and property during armed conflict, and genocide.

The judgment held Hemedti accountable for orchestrating and directing the crimes, while Abdel Rahim Dagalo was convicted for his role in planning and participating in the offenses. Other defendants included Al-Qouni Hamdan Al-Qouni, another brother of Hemedti, RSF West Darfur commander Abdel-Rahman Jumaa, and tribal leader Al-Tijani Al-Taher Karshoum.

Governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar was killed on June 14, 2023. The Sudanese government previously accused the RSF of his murder and desecration of his body, though the group denied involvement. International bodies, including the UN and multiple organizations, have accused the RSF of widespread abuses in El Geneina, including targeted attacks on the Masalit community, forced displacement, and mass killings. The RSF has consistently rejected these allegations.

The conflict between the SAF and RSF has escalated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands of deaths and over 13 million people displaced since April 2023. The RSF maintains control over most of Darfur, while the SAF retains authority in central regions, including Khartoum.

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