Court Sentences Hemedti, His Brothers and 13 RSF Leaders to Death

 

The Port Sudan Criminal Court on Sunday issued a historic ruling sentencing to death by hanging in absentia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), his brothers Abdel Rahim Dagalo, the RSF deputy commander, and Al-Qoni Dagalo, the group’s procurement official, along with 13 other senior RSF leaders.

 

 

 

 

 

The ruling followed their conviction for direct responsibility for the abduction and killing of former West Darfur Wali Khamis Abdullah Abakar, as well as the desecration of his body in June 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

The verdict was delivered during a widely followed hearing in Port Sudan under tight security measures. The court convicted the 16 defendants under provisions of Sudan’s 1991 Criminal Act related to criminal participation, undermining the constitutional order, waging war against the state, intentional killing, and desecration of bodies, in addition to provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Act and the Weapons and Ammunition Act.

 

 

 

 

 

The court based its ruling on strong evidence presented by the prosecution, including the prosecution statement delivered by Sudan’s Attorney General and testimonies from 14 witnesses who established the involvement of the accused leaders either directly or through issuing orders and inciting military actions.

 

 

 

 

The court also reviewed seven video recordings documenting the abduction of the late Wali from his office, his killing, and the treatment of his body, including its dragging through the streets. The footage had drawn widespread international and UN condemnation when the incident occurred.

 

 

 

 

The ruling is considered the first of its kind against the RSF’s top leadership since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in mid-April 2023.