Sudan tries RSF Hemetti In Absentia for West Darfur governor assassination

April 20, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – A Sudanese terrorism court on Sunday began the in absentia trial of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemetti, his brother Abdel Rahim and others over the 2023 assassination of West Darfur’s governor.

Sudan’s Public Prosecution had previously summoned Hemetti, his brothers, former Deputy Governor Tijani Al-Tahir Karshom, and others, declaring them fugitives when they failed to appear, before referring the case to the Port Sudan court.

Judge Al-Mamoun Al-Khawad scheduled the trial to continue on Monday with testimony from the investigator and complainant, while witnesses will appear in later sessions.

Attorney General Al-Fatih Tayfour, presenting the prosecution’s opening statement, said the case detailed acts of “treason” by the RSF, forces he said were meant to protect Sudan. He cited the RSF’s initial attacks on Meroe airport and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s headquarters last year as context for the alleged betrayal.

Governor Khamis Abkar was killed on June 14, 2023, after RSF forces detained him in West Darfur. Videos later surfaced showing his killing and the mutilation of his body.

The attorney general told the court the RSF arrested Abkar and his guards, took them to an RSF base where Abkar was “liquidated” – allegedly with the participation of local RSF commander Abdel Rahman Juma Barak Allah and Karshom – and his body was dragged through the streets.

Tayfour said 16 people are charged in connection with Abkar’s killing under multiple laws, including Criminal Law Article 186 covering crimes against humanity, as well as anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws.

Hemetti is the first accused, followed by his brother Abdel Rahim (RSF deputy commander), and another brother, Al Goni Daglo (RSF head of procurement).

Also charged are Abdel Rahman Juma Barak Allah and Tijani Al-Tahir Karshom. Karshom, Abkar’s former deputy, was later appointed head of an RSF-backed civil administration in West Darfur after the paramilitary group seized the state, a role sources say he still holds.

The charges could carry the death penalty if convicted.