Port Sudan, July 12, 2026 – The Anti-Terrorism and Crimes Against the State Court in Port Sudan on Sunday, presided over by Special Judge Mohamed Al-Amin, issued a death sentence in absentia by hanging until death (ta’zir) against the commander of the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), and 15 other RSF members in the case concerning the killing of West Darfur Wali Khamis Abakar and other violations, after convicting them of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of genocide. In the reasoning for the judgment, the judge stated: “The crimes committed are crimes against humanity, among the most serious offenses punishable under Sudanese criminal law and international law. They were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, under a coordinated criminal plan aimed at exterminating a specific ethnic group. Women, children, the elderly, and sick people inside hospitals were killed. The Wali of the state was also killed while under the protection of the state. The forces that committed the crime used heavy weapons in residential neighborhoods, mutilated bodies, engaged in looting, arson, rape, and forced displacement under extremely dire humanitarian conditions. These crimes were motivated by ethnic hatred and targeted the Masalit community for extermination and displacement, making them even more heinous. They also included the deliberate destruction of infrastructure in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The convicted individuals were state leaders who abused their authority and used state weapons, which were meant to protect citizens, to commit crimes instead. Their actions resulted in the killing and displacement of thousands, the destruction of an entire city, and the devastation of its civilization and history. Given the gravity of these crimes against social peace and national security, and in order to achieve general deterrence against anyone contemplating attacks on civilians, specific deterrence for the convicted persons, and justice for the blood of the martyrs, the least these acts deserve is the imposition of the maximum penalty. These three categories of crimes are not subject to any statute of limitations and cannot be pardoned under international obligations. The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide obliges states to prosecute and punish perpetrators of genocide and prevent impunity. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their two Additional Protocols likewise require states to pursue and punish those responsible for grave breaches.” The court ruled as follows:First convict: Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Articles 186, 187, 188, 189, and 191 of the 1991 Criminal Act.Second convict: Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Article 121 read together with Articles 186, 187, 188, and 191.Third convict: Al-Goni Hamdan Dagalo – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Article 122 read together with Article 186.Fourth convict: Abdelrahman Juma Barakallah – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Articles 186, 187, 188, and 191.Fifth convict: Al-Tijani Al-Tahir Karshoum – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Articles 186, 187, 188, 189, and 191.Sixth convict: Idris Hassan Haroun – Death by hanging until death (ta’zir), convicted under Articles 186, 187, 188, 189, and 191.The court also ordered that Interpol be notified to arrest and surrender the convicted individuals, and ordered the confiscation of all assets and properties belonging to the Rapid Support Forces militia in favor of the Government of Sudan.BH/BH