A Sudanese court on Sunday began the first in-absentia trial of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti”, his brother Abdelrahim Dagalo, and 14 other RSF leaders, charged with the assassination of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar in June 2023.

The session was held at the Judicial Authority complex in the coastal city of Port Sudan, presided over by Judge Mamoun Al-Khowad. Sudan’s Attorney General, Fateh Mohamed Tayfour, led the prosecution, describing the case as “solid and important,” affirming the state’s commitment to justice and the principle of no impunity.

The incident took place on June 14, 2023, when Governor Abakar was kidnapped by RSF fighters and later killed. Graphic videos circulated online showed his mutilated body dumped in public, sparking outrage both domestically and internationally.

If convicted, the defendants face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The case marks a significant legal development as Sudan grapples with ongoing conflict between the national army and the RSF since April 2023.