Hussein Barsham

Hussein Barsham is a Sudanese field commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Barsham is a member of the Messiria people. ^[1] On Monday 30 October 2023 Barsham was in command of a group of RSF soldiers who captured Baleela airport in West Kordofan. ^[2] Barsham was reportedly lightly injured in fighting with members of the Sudanese Armed Forces near Umm Ruwaba or Ghabsha, North Kordofan in December 2024. The tribal leader of the Al Bazaa tribe subsequently put down a reward for the death of Barsham. ^{[3] [4]} In late December 2024 Barsham's actions at the airport were part of an investigation by journalists of The New York Times looking intro atrocities committed during the Sudanese civil war (2023–present). ^{[5] [6]}

On 18 July 2025, Barsham was sanctioned by the European Union, which determined that he enganged in "operations that have resulted in mass atrocities, including targeted killings, ethnic violence, forced displacement and violence against civilians, particularly in Darfur and other conflict-affected regions of Sudan" ^{[7] [8]}

In late 2025 colonel Barsham was reportedly injured in a drone strike in Lagawa District, South Kordan, which killed RSF major general Hashim Didan. ^[9]

References

1. Mohamad Badawi (1 December 2023). "A Scramble for Resources in the Sudan Armed Conflict". African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025.
2. "RSF seize "Balila" airport, which is used by Army fighter jets". darfur24. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026.
3. Alnaser, Hassan; Idris, Mashair; Alagra, Mohamed; al-Faroug, Omar (6 December 2024). "Sudan Nashra: Military advances toward Wad Madani, launches strategic operation to link White Nile, North Kordofan RSF shells Zamzam camp for days as battles for Fasher continue". madamasr.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024.
4. "50 million pounds reward for the head of a famous rebel in Kordofan". Sudan Echoes. 3 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2025.
5. Sanjana Varghese; Natalie Reneau; Christoph Koettl; Aaron Byrd; Declan Walsh (31 December 2024). "How 'Trophy' Videos Link Paramilitary Commanders to War Crimes in Sudan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2025.
6. "Soudan : les chefs de guerre paramilitaires et les preuves de crimes contre l'humanité" (in French). Radio France. 1 January 2025. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025.
7. "COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1481 of 18 July 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan". Official Journal of the European Union. 18 July 2025. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026.
8. "EU targets Sudanese commanders and companies for human rights Violations". Sudan Tribune. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
9. "Sudan: A Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike in Lagawa killed Rapid Support Forces commander Major General Hashim Didan in West Kordofan and wounded Colonel Hussein Barsham". sudan.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 25 January 2026.