Kenya on the spot as UN sanctions ‘genocidal’ rebel leader it hosted

Rahim is the younger brother of RSF commander Mohamed Dagalo and was the senior most leader at a rebels’ meeting hosted in Nairobi in February last year.

The move has thus renewed attention on the controversial meeting, which involved the sanctioned group’s leadership.

According to a narrative summary published on the sanctions committee’s website on Tuesday, Rahim was designated for actions threatening the peace, security and stability of Darfur, including violence and human rights abuses.

The listing identifies Rahim as playing a key operational role in the paramilitary group’s campaigns. He is accused of overseeing operations linked to atrocities during the RSF takeover of el Fasher on October 26 last year.

The UN said he was present at the Sudanese army’s sixth Infantry Division base in the city during the assault and was seen in footage giving direct orders to fighters not to take captives but to kill.

That offensive, the UN noted, was marked by mass killings of civilians at El Fasher University and the Saudi Hospital, shootings in surrounding areas and ethnically targeted executions of Zaghawa and other non-Arab communities.

The sanctions summary also cited reports of widespread sexual violence, including gang rape in front of relatives, as well as the kidnapping of medical personnel for ransom.

Four doctors, a pharmacist and a nurse were reportedly abducted, with demands exceeding $150,000. The violence displaced an estimated 70,000 people, leaving many civilians trapped or missing.

Beyond the battlefield allegations, his designation has drawn renewed attention in Kenya, where he appeared publicly exactly a year ago during a meeting of RSF-aligned figures at the government-owned KICC in Nairobi.

At that meeting, RSF leaders and allied political actors announced plans for a parallel administration, a move that deepened tensions with Sudan’s military leadership.

At the time, the Sudan Armed Forces accused Kenya of hosting RSF commanders and facilitating their political activities abroad, allegations that Nairobi rejected. The issue became more contentious after an interview aired by Sky News showed Abdul Dagalo speaking from Nairobi, reinforcing claims by Sudan’s military authorities that RSF figures were operating from the Kenyan capital.

The developments placed Kenya at the centre of a diplomatic row linked to the Sudan war, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese army. The war has devastated large parts of the country, particularly Darfur, where long-standing ethnic tensions and armed mobilisations have fuelled renewed atrocities.

Analysts say the UN sanctions now underscore the international community’s focus on accountability for commanders accused of directing attacks on civilians. Under the Darfur sanctions regime, listed individuals face travel bans and asset freezes aimed at limiting their ability to operate internationally.

The sanctioning of Dagalo is significant not only because of his position within the RSF hierarchy but also because of his operational influence in the group’s campaigns across Sudan’s western regions.

He has been described as one of the key field commanders shaping RSF strategy in Darfur and border areas.

The sanctions have also revived scrutiny over last year’s meeting and its broader role in regional mediation efforts related to Sudan.

At the same time, the Kenyan government is also under scrutiny after earlier sanctions announcement exposed Algoney Dagalo, the younger brother of Hemedti and an RSF commander possessing a Kenyan passport.

While Nairobi has positioned itself as a diplomatic actor in regional peace processes, the presence of RSF figures on its territory has been criticised by Sudan’s military leadership and some regional observers.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who also served as Foreign Minister in the Moi administration, has criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration over reports that Algoney holds a Kenyan passport.

Kalonzo said the alleged issuance of the passport to rebel leaders could hurt Kenya’s image internationally and raise national security concerns.

“The Ruto government is issuing passports to militia leaders from Sudan and thus jeopardising relationships with friendly countries. It’s tragic that individuals sanctioned by the US Treasury are using our passport,” Kalonzo said.

He added Kenya has lost a significant share of the Sudanese tea market due to support for the Sudanese rebels.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate, with aid agencies warning that large parts of the region remain inaccessible. Civilians are still exposed to violence, displacement and shortages of basic services.

According to International Rescue Committee, the war has displaced over 12 million people and left 33.7 million people in need of humanitarian support.

“More than 150,000 people have been killed, with indiscriminate attacks on civilians being reported,” IRC said in its update report on February 10.

“With over 30 million people in need of humanitarian aid, Sudan accounts for a shocking 10 per cent of global needs.”