Sudan court sentences RSF chief Dagalo to death in absentia over West Darfur killings

KHARTOUM, Sudan — A Sudanese court has sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and 15 other defendants to death in absentia over the killing of the West Darfur governor and civilians in the region's capital, El Geneina. The ruling relates to RSF attacks in El Geneina in September 2023. The court also ordered an Interpol notification and issued extradition requests for the defendants from the countries where they are located. The verdict comes as the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, enters its fourth year. The RSF has repeatedly denied genocide accusations leveled against it since the conflict started. The case stems from an investigation commission established in August 2024 by army commander and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan under the chief military prosecutor. The commission referred the case to court in 2025. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, producing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.