A Sudanese court sentenced Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, to death in absentia on Sunday.
The ruling marks a significant legal escalation in the ongoing conflict, as the state formally labels the RSF commander's actions in West Darfur as genocide.
The decision was handed down by the anti-terrorism and crimes against the state court in Port Sudan [1]. Hemedti was convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide related to mass atrocities committed in the West Darfur region [1], [2].
In total, the court sentenced 16 defendants to death [1]. This group includes Hemedti and 15 other RSF commanders and allies [1], [3]. Because the defendants were not present during the proceedings, the sentences were issued in absentia [1], [4].
The charges center on the systematic killing of civilians and widespread destruction in West Darfur [1], [2]. The court found the defendants responsible for organizing and executing these attacks as part of a broader campaign of violence [1].
Legal representatives for the state said the convictions reflect the scale of the atrocities committed during the unrest. The ruling follows reports of mass killings and ethnic cleansing that have displaced thousands across the region [2].
While the sentence is legally binding under Sudanese law, the practical execution of the verdict remains uncertain given Hemedti's current control over significant territories and his absence from the jurisdiction of the Port Sudan court [1].
“Sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide”
This verdict symbolizes the Sudanese state's effort to delegitimize the RSF leadership on the international stage by formally documenting genocide. While the death sentences are unlikely to be carried out immediately due to the active conflict, the ruling creates a legal precedent that may be used in future international tribunals or peace negotiations to demand accountability for atrocities in Darfur.
