Sudan sentences RSF chief Dagalo to death in absentia for war crimes
A Sudanese court has handed down a death sentence against Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with 15 other RSF commanders and allies, who were tried in absentia on charges of war crimes. The ruling marks one of the most significant judicial actions taken against the leadership of the paramilitary group since the outbreak of Sudan’s internal conflict.
Background to the trial
The verdicts come against the backdrop of a protracted power struggle and armed conflict in Sudan that has drawn in the RSF and the country’s regular armed forces. The paramilitary group has been at the centre of widespread allegations of abuses committed during the fighting, with international observers and humanitarian organisations documenting reports of serious violations against civilians in multiple regions of the country.
Sudanese authorities have pursued legal accountability for senior figures linked to the RSF, framing the trials as part of a broader effort to address wartime atrocities. The in absentia nature of the proceedings reflects the fact that those convicted are not in the custody of the Sudanese state.
The RSF and the wider conflict
The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militias that operated in Darfur in earlier years and grew into a powerful paramilitary force with significant economic and military influence. Its confrontation with Sudan’s official military has contributed to large-scale displacement, a humanitarian emergency, and instability across several regions, with cross-border effects felt in neighbouring states.
The court’s decision is likely to deepen the political and legal isolation of the paramilitary leadership, while doing little in the immediate term to alter the military situation on the ground. Rights groups have long urged independent investigations into alleged abuses by all parties to the conflict, including the regular armed forces.
Implications and reactions
Analysts say the sentencing carries symbolic weight, signalling Sudan’s determination to pursue accountability through its own judicial institutions even as the fighting continues. Whether the ruling translates into practical consequences for those named remains uncertain, given that the convicted figures operate beyond the reach of Khartoum’s courts.
International actors and mediators have repeatedly called for accountability mechanisms alongside efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader political settlement. The latest verdict is expected to add a further layer of complexity to those diplomatic efforts.
Source: BBC News — read the original report.
