Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, widely known as ‘Hemedti,’ has ascended to a position of immense power in Sudan, with his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) now controlling half of the country. The RSF recently achieved a significant victory by capturing el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in Darfur. Hemedti, feared by his enemies and revered by his followers, has built a reputation for ruthlessness and strategic acumen, promising to dismantle a discredited state. Born into the Rizeigat community, a camel-herding Arabic-speaking group spanning Chad and Darfur, Hemedti’s early life was marked by poverty and displacement. After dropping out of school, he traded camels across the desert, eventually joining the Janjaweed militia, which gained notoriety for its atrocities during the Darfur conflict. Hemedti’s rise began in earnest when he was appointed head of the RSF in 2013, a force that absorbed the Janjaweed and received modern equipment and training. Under his leadership, the RSF expanded its influence, securing lucrative gold mining operations and forging alliances with foreign powers, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia’s Wagner Group. Hemedti played a pivotal role in the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, but his relationship with the Sudanese army deteriorated, leading to a brutal civil war. The RSF has been accused of widespread atrocities, including mass killings, rape, and looting, yet Hemedti remains defiant, positioning himself as a key political player in Sudan’s future. With the RSF now controlling vast territories and wielding significant military power, Hemedti’s ambitions—whether as a president, puppet master, or warlord—continue to shape Sudan’s turbulent landscape.
He made his money selling camels and gold. Now this warlord controls half of Sudan
