A court in Port Sudan has issued death sentences in absentia against Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, a prominent paramilitary leader, along with 15 others, in connection to the killing of a regional governor and various war crimes in Darfur. This ruling marks a significant development, being the first of its kind against the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the onset of war between the RSF and the Sudanese army in April 2023.
According to state media, the convictions include severe charges such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and assaults on civilians and public facilities. Among those sentenced are Daglo’s deputy and brother, Abdelrahim Hamdan Daglo, alongside several RSF officers and tribal leaders linked to Arab communities in West Darfur.
The court’s focus centered on the killing of West Darfur governor Khamis Abbakar in June 2023, which occurred shortly after RSF forces took control of El-Geneina, the state capital. Abbakar’s death followed his public allegations that the RSF and associated militias were perpetrating attacks against civilians.
Reports by UN experts indicate a staggering death toll in the region ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 people, primarily from the Massalit ethnic group, during the outbreak of violence in El-Geneina. In response to these findings, the RSF has consistently denied any involvement in genocide or war crimes, rejecting the allegations levied against them.
The court’s decision also entails that the case will be referred to the Supreme Court for further review, while authorities will pursue the arrest and extradition of the convicted individuals through Interpol and other international means.
The conflict roots back to a power struggle between Dalgo and Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who jointly orchestrated a coup in 2021 that disrupted Sudan’s fragile transition to civilian governance. Disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the regular army escalated tensions, leading to the current violent conflict.
This ongoing strife has now entered its fourth year, resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities, displacing over 11 million people, and sparking what the United Nations has termed the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises.
