Sudan Court Sentences RSF Leader Hemedti to Death in Landmark War Crimes Ruling | Dawan Africa

Sudan , July 13, 2026 – A Sudanese court has sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, to death in absentia over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the conflict in West Darfur, marking the first judicial conviction of the paramilitary group’s top leadership since Sudan’s civil war began.

The ruling, delivered by an anti-terrorism court in Port Sudan, also sentenced 15 senior RSF commanders to death over atrocities allegedly committed during the war, including the 2023 killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbakar.

Among those convicted were Hemedti’s brother and deputy, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, another brother, Al-Qoni Hamdan Dagalo, and RSF West Darfur commander Abdul Rahman Juma Barkallah.

The court found the defendants guilty of orchestrating attacks on civilians, widespread destruction and looting of property, and targeting schools, places of worship and residential neighbourhoods in El Geneina and surrounding areas.

Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin also ordered the confiscation of RSF assets and directed authorities to seek Interpol Red Notices to facilitate the arrest and extradition of those convicted.

The RSF has not responded to the verdict but has consistently denied allegations of war crimes throughout the conflict.

The judgment comes just days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced a breakthrough in its own investigation into atrocities in Darfur.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan recently revealed that investigators had obtained “strong evidence” linking crimes committed in Darfur to senior leadership.

“We have got additional evidence, strong evidence, linking what is occurring in Darfur with leadership levels. We are very, very pleased to say that this is a breakthrough for us,” Khan said.

The ICC is investigating attacks on El Geneina in 2023 and El Fasher in 2025, where UN investigators say the RSF carried out attacks bearing the “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities.