Sudan’s government has issued a formal condemnation against Uganda for hosting paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), labeling the diplomatic engagement an “affront to humanity.” The Sudanese foreign ministry, representing the nation’s armed forces, accused Uganda of violating international law by welcoming Dagalo, whose forces stand accused of perpetrating extensive atrocities throughout Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict.
The diplomatic confrontation emerged after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met with Dagalo—commonly known as Hemedti—at his presidential residence in Entebbe last Friday. Museveni, who serves as an African Union-appointed mediator between Sudan’s military and the RSF, stated that he emphasized the necessity of a “peaceful political solution” to end the conflict.
In a strongly-worded statement released on Sunday, Sudan’s foreign ministry denounced the reception of the “rebel leader” and described the meeting as an “unprecedented move” that insults not only the Sudanese people but humanity as a whole. While acknowledging Uganda’s sovereign right to host foreign visitors, Khartoum insisted that welcoming Dagalo constitutes a breach of international legal standards.
The RSF and Sudan’s national armed forces have been embroiled in a devastating power struggle for nearly three years, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and displacing over 13 million people. Both factions face allegations of committing atrocities, with recent UN reports suggesting that RSF actions during the siege of el-Fasher may amount to genocide.
This incident echoes previous regional tensions, including Sudan’s suspension of imports from Kenya last year after Nairobi hosted RSF representatives. African nations continue to grapple with diplomatic balancing acts as they attempt to mediate a conflict that shows no signs of abatement, with the RSF recently announcing the capture of al-Tina in North Darfur following intense fighting.