Sudan International

Sudanese court issues death sentences in absentia against Rapid Support Forces commander and 15 others

After the Anti-Terrorism Court convicted them in the case of killing former West Darfur governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar and mutilating his body..

Adel Abdelrheem

13 July 2026 • Updated: 13 July 2026

SUDAN

Adel Abdelrahim / Anadolu

A Sudanese court on Sunday issued a death sentence in absentia against Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemedti' and 15 others, convicting them in the case of the killing of West Darfur governor Khamis Abkar and the events of El Geneina city, the state capital.

This is the first judicial ruling against the Rapid Support Forces commander since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023.

The Anti-Terrorism and Crimes against the State Court in Port Sudan (northeast) issued a death sentence by hanging until death in absentia against the Rapid Support Forces commander, his deputy and brother Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, and others after convicting them in the case of the killing of former West Darfur governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar.

The court convicted the defendants under articles related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, war against persons and property, and genocide crimes.

The court accused Hemedti of responsibility for those crimes in execution and planning, and his deputy Abdelrahim Dagalo of planning and participating in the crimes.

The list of defendants also included 14 others, among them Al-Goni Hamdan Al-Goni, Hemedti's brother, and Abdelrahman Juma, commander of the Rapid Support Forces in West Darfur, and the tribal leader in West Darfur, Al-Tijani Al-Taher Karshoum.

On June 14, 2023, West Darfur governor Khamis Abkar was killed, and the Sudanese government accused the Rapid Support Forces of killing him and mutilating his body, which the Rapid Support Forces denied at the time.

The Sudanese government and international organizations accused the Rapid Support Forces of committing widespread crimes and violations in El Geneina, killing hundreds of people, and displacing thousands from the Masalit tribe in the city.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening due to the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, ongoing since April 2023 over a disagreement about unifying the military institution, which has left tens of thousands dead and nearly 13 million displaced.

Out of the country's 18 states, the Rapid Support Forces control the five Darfur states in the west, except parts of North Darfur still under army control, which exerts its influence over most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital Khartoum.