Landmark Ruling for War Crimes
A Sudanese court sentenced Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in West Darfur. Along with Dagalo, 15 other senior RSF members received the same sentence. The Sudan Founding Alliance, which includes the RSF, dismissed the trial as a "sham trial" that "does not even deserve a comment." The trial focused on alleged atrocities in the regional capital el-Geneina, including the killing of state governor Khamis Abbakar in June 2023.
Impact on Conflict and International Justice
The ruling marks the first judicial conviction of the RSF's leadership since civil war erupted in Sudan. However, its impact remains uncertain as the group still controls western Sudan, and its leaders are out of the army's reach. UN investigators and human rights organizations have accused the RSF and allied militias of ethnically targeted attacks against the Masalit population in Darfur. The International Criminal Court's deputy chief prosecutor recently stated they have "concrete evidence" linking RSF leaders to war crimes.
EU Sanctions Target Sudan's Gold Trade
As Sudan's civil war enters its fourth year, the European Union approved new trade prohibitions on Sudan's gold sector. The move aims to increase pressure on the warring parties to end the conflict, which has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced 12 million people. Aid agencies report that 28 million people are facing acute hunger due to the ongoing war.
Human Rights Abuses and Displacement
Both sides of the conflict have been accused of committing human rights abuses and war crimes. In 2024, a Human Rights Watch report stated that the campaign in and around el-Geneina between April and November 2023 killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands to flee. The abuses were deemed war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Masalit and other non-Arab communities. The United Nations also found the Sudanese army and the RSF responsible for targeting civilians and vital infrastructure in large-scale attacks.
