Sudanese Court Sentences Rsf Leader Dagalo To Death In Absentia

A Sudanese court has sentenced RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and 15 others to death in absentia for war crimes, genocide and the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbakar. The ruling comes as Sudan's civil war continues to fuel one of the world's worst humanitarian crises

A Sudanese court has sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, and 15 others to death in absentia over the killing of a regional governor and crimes committed during the conflict in Darfur.
The ruling, delivered on Sunday in the city of Port Sudan, is the first court judgment against the RSF leadership since fighting broke out between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese army in April 2023.

COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCES

The court found Dagalo and the other defendants guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and attacks on civilians and public facilities.
Because the accused were not present in court, the sentences were issued in absentia.
The case will now be sent to Sudan's Supreme Court for review.

WHO WAS SENTENCED

Those sentenced include Dagalo's brother and deputy, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo.
Several RSF commanders and tribal leaders from communities in West Darfur were also convicted.
The court ruled that all those found guilty played roles in crimes committed during the conflict in the region.

KILLING OF THE WEST
DARFUR GOVERNOR

The case centres on the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbakar in June 2023.
Abbakar was killed just hours after publicly accusing the RSF and its allied militias of attacking civilians following the capture of Al Geneina, the state capital.
His death drew widespread international condemnation.

COURT SEEKS INTERNATIONAL ARRESTS

The court ordered Sudanese authorities to work with Interpol and other international agencies to arrest and extradite those convicted.
Officials said they would pursue legal channels to ensure the accused face justice.
The RSF has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide and other war crimes.
HOW THE CONFLICT BEGAN
The war in Sudan started in April 2023 after a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The dispute centred on plans to integrate the RSF into the national army, eventually leading to full-scale fighting across the country.
The conflict has continued for more than three years.

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT OF THE WAR

The fighting has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
According to the United Nations, tens of thousands of people have been killed, while more than 11 million others have been displaced.
UN experts also estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 people, most of them from the Massalit ethnic group, were killed during violence in Al Geneina.
The conflict continues to leave millions of Sudanese in need of humanitarian assistance.