Sudan Court Sentences RSF Leader Mohamed Dagalo to Death
Convictions over Darfur killings may further derail peace efforts.
A court in Sudan has sentenced General Mohamed Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death. The sentence was given for his alleged role in killings in the Darfur region, according to the military-aligned judiciary.
Along with General Dagalo, 12 other members and supporters of the RSF were also sentenced to death by a counter-terrorism court in the city of Port Sudan.
Who Else Was Sentenced?
Those sentenced include General Dagalo’s brothers, Abdel Rahim Dagalo (the RSF deputy commander) and Al Qoony Dagalo, who is also an RSF member.
During a five-hour hearing, the court convicted the 13 individuals of crimes against humanity and genocide. Since the group was tried in absentia, it remains difficult for authorities to arrest them and carry out the sentences at this time.
Impact on Peace Efforts
This ruling highlights the deep tensions between the two warring sides. Experts believe it will make future peace talks much harder. The ongoing conflict has already displaced about 14 million people and left over 20 million facing severe hunger, creating a major humanitarian crisis.
The conflict first began in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023, following tensions between army chief General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and General Dagalo over Sudan's political transition.
Background of the Darfur Conflict
The court charges relate to events in Darfur in June 2023. Most of the victims were members of the Masalit community in the city of Geneina. Thousands of people are believed to have lost their lives, forcing many others to flee to neighboring Chad.
These events caused international concern and led to global sanctions against the paramilitary group. A UN fact-finding mission also reported serious human rights violations in the city of El Fasher last October.
In a report released in February, the UN mission stated that the RSF's actions bore “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities and indicated a persistent risk of further atrocities.
The Current Situation in Sudan
Meanwhile, the Sudanese military has also faced criticism for civilian casualties and the alleged use of chemical weapons. Recently, the US government called for urgent international inspections and imposed a second round of sanctions on the authorities in Port Sudan.
As the conflict enters its fourth year, the Sudanese army controls Khartoum and the northern and eastern regions. The RSF continues to hold most of Darfur, along with parts of Kordofan and the southern Blue Nile state.
AI contributed to the creation of this article.