RSF officials accused of atrocities met with Israeli officials during Sudan civil war - report

Africa Intelligence reported that members of RSF met with officials from the Africa Division of Israel's Foreign Ministry and with Israeli intelligence personnel.

Senior officials from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been accused of committing war crimes and atrocities against civilians during the country's civil war, maintained secret contacts with Israel and sent delegations to Tel Aviv during the conflict, French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported over the weekend.

According to the report, two delegations representing the RSF secretly traveled to Tel Aviv, the first in May 2025 and the second in February 2026.

Africa Intelligence reported that members of the delegations met with officials from the Africa Division of Israel's Foreign Ministry and with Israeli intelligence personnel.

The outlet claimed that the contacts were part of a security and intelligence relationship that began before the outbreak of Sudan's civil war in April 2023.

According to the report, the first delegation included Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy to RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, as well as their brother, Algoney Hamdan Dagalo. The report claimed that the two returned to Israel in February 2026, and that the organization's legal adviser joined them during the second visit.

Africa Intelligence further claimed that contacts between Hemedti's associates and Israeli officials were not new and had included cooperation in security and intelligence matters over the years. Some of the claims in the report also concern the transfer of surveillance technologies and equipment to RSF-linked officials.

The allegations, however, were published by the investigative outlet and should not be regarded as official confirmation that Israel assisted the rebel forces during the war.

RSF accused of genocidal actions, mass rape in Darfur

The report has drawn particular attention given the serious accusations against the Rapid Support Forces. A UN investigative commission determined in July that RSF members had committed mass killings, rape, abductions and deliberate starvation during the capture of El Fasher in Darfur, acts that investigators said could amount to genocide.

The RSF rejected the accusations. The organization has previously also been reported to have ties with the United Arab Emirates.

Abdel Rahim Dagalo himself is subject to international sanctions. European documents describe him as having played a central role in the RSF's military activities and as bearing responsibility for actions threatening peace and stability in Darfur, including violence and human rights violations.