KHARTOUM, Sudan — The government of Sudan has formally charged Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, and his brother Abdel Rahim Dagalo with genocide and the brutal killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abakar, in what could mark a turning point in Sudan’s spiraling civil war.
According to Sudanese authorities, the Dagalo brothers were indicted in absentia over their alleged role in a string of atrocities committed in Darfur, including the June 2023 abduction and public execution of Governor Abakar.
The governor’s mutilated body was filmed and widely circulated online, sparking global outrage and condemnation.
The charges come amid mounting international pressure on the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group accused of ethnically targeted violence in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Fourteen additional RSF members have also been named in the indictment, which is likely to further strain the already fraying fabric of Sudan’s war-torn political landscape.
U.S. Designates RSF Actions as Genocide
The indictment follows the United States’ recent designation of RSF-led actions in Darfur as genocide, citing systematic killings and sexual violence targeting ethnic minority groups, particularly the Masalit community.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Hemedti, Abdel Rahim, and multiple RSF-linked companies.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have echoed similar findings, accusing the RSF of orchestrating ethnic cleansing and deploying scorched-earth tactics in their campaign to control Darfur.
From Janjaweed Militia to Powerbroker
Hemedti’s rise to power has been as dramatic as it is controversial. Born in the 1970s in Darfur’s Mahariya tribe, he dropped out of school and joined the Janjaweed militia after an attack on his camel-trading convoy reportedly killed several of his relatives.
In 2013, then-President Omar al-Bashir appointed him head of the newly formed RSF, which was largely composed of Janjaweed fighters.
Under Hemedti’s command, the RSF gained vast influence — seizing control of gold mines, cracking down on protest movements, and positioning itself as a key player in Sudan’s post-Bashir political transition.
Though once a close ally of Bashir, Hemedti helped engineer the dictator’s ouster in 2019 and became deputy leader in the transitional Sovereignty Council that followed.
Despite his meteoric rise, Hemedti had until now evaded formal criminal charges, even as international scrutiny of the RSF grew.
A Nation Divided by War
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between Hemedti’s RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
What began as a power dispute has since devolved into a humanitarian catastrophe. Tens of thousands have been killed, and over 13 million people have been displaced — many without access to food, water, or medical care.
The International Rescue Committee has labelled it “the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded,” while aid groups warn that famine, disease, and lawlessness are spreading fast, especially in Darfur and Khartoum.
Parallel Government and Political Uncertainty
Meanwhile, the RSF has declared a rival civilian-led government based in western Sudan, deepening fears of a national split.
The move was condemned by the Arab League and seen as a direct challenge to Khartoum’s authority.
The Sudanese government’s charges against the Dagalo brothers — while symbolic given their absence — signal a hardening stance against the RSF and may pave the way for broader international legal action.
The next steps remain unclear. With Hemedti still commanding forces on the ground and enjoying substantial financial and tribal backing, analysts warn that peace in Sudan remains a distant hope.
