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Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, previously made his fortune trading camels and gold. Today, his RSF militia control around 50% of Sudan.

Consolidating Control in Darfur

The RSF recently achieved a significant triumph by overrunning the city of al-Fasher, which was the final military stronghold in the western region.

Feared and despised by his opponents, Hemedti is admired by his loyalists for his tenacity and his pledge to dismantle the discredited state.

Modest Origins

His background is humble. He comes from the Mahariya clan of the camel-herding Rizeigat community, an Arabic-speaking group that spans Chad and Darfur.

His birth year is approximately 1975, as is common in remote regions, his date and place of birth were not officially registered.

Guided by his uncle Juma, his family relocated to Darfur in the late 20th century, escaping war and seeking better opportunities.

Initial Ventures

Dropping out of education in his early teens, Hemedti started making money by trading camels across the Sahara to Libya and Egypt.

During that period, Darfur was a lawless frontier—impoverished, ignored by the regime of then-President Omar al-Bashir.

Arab militiamen known as the Janjaweed raided villages of the native Fur communities, escalating a major uprising in 2003.

Ascendancy Amid Conflict

As a countermeasure, Bashir greatly enlarged the Janjaweed to lead his counter-insurgency campaign. They quickly gained notoriety for widespread atrocities.

Hemedti's unit was among them, accused in destroying the village of Adwah in November 2004, claiming the lives of over a hundred individuals, among them dozens of minors.

A US investigation determined that the Janjaweed were guilty of crimes against humanity.

Strategic Maneuvering

After the peak of violence in 2004, Hemedti astutely managed his rise to become head of a influential militia, a business network, and a political machine.

He briefly mutinied, demanding unpaid salaries for his soldiers, promotions, and a government role for his brother. Bashir granted most of his demands.

Subsequently, when other Janjaweed units rebelled, Hemedti led government forces that defeated them, taking over Darfur's largest artisanal gold mine at Jebel Amir.

Quickly, his family company Al-Gunaid became the top gold exporter in Sudan.

Formalizing Power

By 2013, Hemedti requested and obtained official recognition as head of the newly formed Rapid Support Forces, reporting directly to Bashir.

The Janjaweed were integrated into the RSF, getting new uniforms, vehicles, and weapons.

Regional Ambitions

Hemedti's forces engaged in the Darfur conflict, struggled in the Nuba Mountains, and took on a role to police the border with Libya.

Ostensibly curbing illicit migration, Hemedti's commanders also engaged in extortion and people-trafficking.

By 2015, Gulf nations asked Sudanese troops for the war in Yemen. Hemedti negotiated a separate deal to provide his fighters as contractors.

His ties with the UAE proved most consequential, marking the start of a strong alliance with UAE officials.

Growing Power

Recruits flocked to RSF recruiting centers for signing bonuses of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti struck a partnership with the Russian Wagner organization, receiving training in exchange for business arrangements, including in the gold trade.

He visited Moscow coincided with the day of the Ukraine war outbreak.

Political Betrayal

With rising demonstrations, Bashir deployed Hemedti's units to the city of Khartoum, dubbing him "my protector".

It was a miscalculation. In April 2019, when demonstrators demanded democracy, Bashir instructed troops to shoot. Instead, the military leaders deposed him.

Initially, Hemedti was celebrated as a new leader for Sudan. He tried to reposition himself, but this was short-lived.

Renewed Brutality

When power wasn't transferred, Hemedti unleashed the RSF, which committed massacres, raped women, and reportedly drowned men in the River Nile.

Hemedti has rejected that the RSF engaged in war crimes.

Under foreign pressure, the generals and civilians reached a deal, leading to an uneasy partnership for several years.

Current Conflict

When a committee started looking into military-owned companies, the two generals dismissed the civilians and took control.

However, they disagreed. Burhan insisted the RSF come under army command. Hemedti resisted.

In April 2023, RSF units moved to surround strategic locations in the capital. The takeover effort was unsuccessful, and violence broke out city-wide.

Violence exploded in Darfur, with the RSF launching brutal attacks against the Masalit community.

The UN estimates up to 15,000 civilian deaths, with the American officials calling it ethnic cleansing.

Present Situation

Hemedti's forces obtained advanced arms, including military drones, used to strike Burhan's stronghold and crucial in the assault on el-Fasher.

Equipped thus, the RSF is in a strategic stalemate with the Sudanese army.

Hemedti has formed a parallel government, the "Government of Peace and Unity", appointing himself leader.

With the capture of al-Fasher, the RSF now holds the majority of populated areas west of the Nile.

After allegations of mass killings, Hemedti announced a probe into abuses perpetrated by his fighters.

Many believe Hemedti envisions himself as president of a breakaway state or aspires to rule all of Sudan.

Alternatively, he may emerge as a behind-the-scenes power broker, commanding businesses, a mercenary army, and a political party.

And as Hemedti's forces continue atrocities in el-Fasher, he appears confident of impunity in a global community that overlooks.