Ali Yaqoub Gibril ( ar, علي يعقوب جبريل; 1 January 1964 – 14 June 2024) was a Sudanese military leader in the

Rapid Support Forces , image = Rapid Support Forces emblem.png , image_size = , caption = RSF Seal , start_date = August 2013 , dates = , country = , allegiance = , branch = , command_structure = Sudanese Armed Forces , type = Paramilitary , role = , ...

(RSF). He was accused of leading military operations that caused significant human rights violations in

Darfur Darfur ( ; ar, دار فور, Dār Fūr, lit=Realm of the Fur) is a region of western Sudan. ''Dār'' is an Arabic word meaning "home f – the region was named Dardaju ( ar, دار داجو, Dār Dājū, links=no) while ruled by the Daju, ...

. Jibril started his career as a tribal militia leader in

Central Darfur Central Darfur State () is one of the states of Sudan, and one of five comprising the Darfur region. It was created in January 2012 as a result of the ongoing peace process for the wider Darfur region. The state capital is Zalingei. The state w ...

, where he was accused of committing crimes against an ethnic group. Later, he joined the RSF and took command in Central Darfur. In May 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Ali Yaqoub Gibril and another RSF leader, Osman Mohammed Hamid, for their roles in exacerbating the conflict and increasing violence in Darfur. The sanctions include freezing their assets in the United States and banning financial transactions with them. Jibril played a crucial role in the RSF's military operations in Darfur, gaining control over Central Darfur and expelling the

Sudanese Army The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF; ar, القوات المسلحة السودانية, Al-Quwwat al-Musallaha as-Sudaniyah) are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. In 2011, IISS estimated the regular forces' numbers at personnel, whil ...

from the 21st Infantry Division's command. He was involved in military actions targeting Battle of El Fasher, the capital of

North Darfur North Darfur State ( ar, ولاية شمال دارفور Wilāyat Šamāl Dārfūr; ''Shamal Darfor'') is one of the wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the five states composing the Darfur region. It has an area of 296,420 km2 and a ...

, leading to numerous civilian casualties and worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region. On 14 June 2024, the

Sudanese Armed Forces The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF; ar, القوات المسلحة السودانية, Al-Quwwat al-Musallaha as-Sudaniyah) are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. In 2011, IISS estimated the regular forces' numbers at personnel, whil ...

killed Gibril during a failed RSF assault on El Fasher.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibril, Ali Yaqoub 1964 births 2024 deaths Sudanese generals People killed in the Sudanese civil war (2023−present) Military personnel killed in action Members of paramilitary organizations People killed by armed forces