Sudanese Court Issues Death Sentence to Paramilitary Leader
In a recent ruling, a Sudanese court sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death for his involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The verdict was delivered in absentia by a court in Port Sudan, an area currently under military control. Alongside Dagalo, 15 other senior RSF officials received the same sentence.
The convictions relate to violent acts committed in el-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, including the murder of the state governor Khamis Abbakar in June 2023. The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks against civilians, destroying and looting property, and targeting schools, religious sites, and residential areas.
Response and Reactions
The Sudan Founding Alliance, which includes the RSF, dismissed the trial as a "sham," stating it did not warrant serious consideration. The RSF has not commented on the verdict, although it has previously denied allegations of war crimes.
Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin ordered the confiscation of all RSF assets and urged authorities to seek Interpol Red Notices to facilitate the arrest and extradition of those convicted. Despite this significant judicial ruling, the impact remains uncertain as the RSF continues to control significant portions of western Sudan, with its leaders still at large.
International and Human Rights Perspectives
International organizations, including the United Nations and human rights groups, have accused the RSF and aligned Arab militias of ethnically targeted attacks against the Masalit population in Darfur. The International Criminal Court's deputy chief prosecutor recently claimed to have concrete evidence linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
A Human Rights Watch report from May 2024 detailed a campaign of violence in and around el-Geneina from April to November 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands. These actions were characterized as war crimes and crimes against humanity, part of an ethnic cleansing effort against the Masalit and other non-Arab communities.
Conflict Background
Sudan has been gripped by civil war since April 2023, stemming from a fierce power struggle between the Sudanese army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under Dagalo's leadership. The conflict has claimed over 150,000 lives and forced approximately 12 million people to flee their homes. Aid organizations report that around 28 million people are facing severe hunger due to the ongoing crisis.
The United Nations has accused both the Sudanese army and the RSF of committing human rights abuses and targeting civilians and essential infrastructure, including medical facilities, during large-scale attacks.
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