🔗 Share this article

The Sudanese commander known as Hemedti, previously made his fortune trading camels and gold. Today, his RSF militia control nearly half of Sudan.

Seizing Power in Darfur

The RSF recently achieved a major victory by capturing the city of al-Fasher, which was the last remaining army garrison in the Darfur area.

Feared and despised by his adversaries, Hemedti is revered by his supporters for his determination and his pledge to overthrow the discredited state.

Modest Origins

Hemedti's origins are modest. He comes from the Mahariya section of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arab group that straddles the Chad-Sudan border region.

Born around 1974, as is common in remote regions, his date and place of birth were never recorded.

Guided by his uncle Juma, his family moved to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, fleeing conflict and in search of greener pastures.

Initial Ventures

After leaving school in his adolescence, Hemedti started making money by trading camels across the desert to neighboring countries.

At that time, Darfur was Sudan's wild west—poor, neglected by the regime of then-President Omar al-Bashir.

Arab militiamen known as the Janjaweed raided villages of the indigenous Fur, triggering a major uprising in 2003.

Rise Through Violence

In response, Bashir greatly enlarged the Janjaweed to lead his counter-insurgency campaign. They quickly gained notoriety for burning, looting, and killing.

Hemedti's force was among them, accused in attacking the village of Adwah in late 2004, killing 126 people, including 36 children.

International inquiries concluded that the Janjaweed were guilty of crimes against humanity.

Calculated Moves

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

At one point he rebelled, requesting unpaid salaries for his soldiers, advancements, and a political position for his sibling. Bashir acceded to most of his demands.

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

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

Formalizing Power

In 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, receiving new uniforms, vehicles, and weapons.

International Connections

The RSF fought in Darfur, struggled in the Nuba Mountains, and accepted a contract to guard the border with Libya.

Ostensibly curbing illicit migration, Hemedti's officers also excelled at corruption and human smuggling.

By 2015, Gulf nations asked Sudanese troops for the Yemen conflict. Hemedti struck his own agreement to provide RSF mercenaries.

The Abu Dhabi connection proved highly significant, marking the start of a strong alliance with Emirati leadership.

Expanding Influence

Recruits flocked to RSF enlistment offices for signing bonuses of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti formed an alliance with Russia's Wagner Group, receiving training in exchange for business arrangements, including in the gold trade.

He visited Moscow coincided with the day of the invasion of Ukraine.

Political Betrayal

With rising demonstrations, Bashir deployed Hemedti's units to the capital Khartoum, nicknaming him "my protector".

It was a miscalculation. In 2019, when protesters demanded democracy, Bashir ordered the army to open fire. Instead, the generals overthrew him.

For a time, Hemedti was hailed as a new leader for Sudan. He attempted to rebrand, but that lasted only weeks.

Return to Violence

As the transition stalled, Hemedti unleashed the RSF, which committed massacres, assaulted females, and allegedly executed men in the Nile.

Hemedti has denied that the RSF engaged in war crimes.

Under foreign pressure, the military and civil leaders agreed to a compromise, leading to an uneasy partnership for several years.

Current Conflict

When a committee began examining military-owned companies, the two generals dismissed the civilians and seized power.

But they fell out. Burhan insisted the RSF come under army command. Hemedti resisted.

Last year, RSF units moved to surround strategic locations in the capital. The attempted putsch was unsuccessful, and violence broke out city-wide.

Conflict intensified in Darfur, with the RSF launching brutal attacks against the Masalit community.

International organizations report up to 15,000 civilian deaths, with the US describing it ethnic cleansing.

Current Status

The RSF has acquired modern weapons, including sophisticated drones, used to strike Burhan's stronghold and critical for the assault on al-Fasher.

Equipped thus, the RSF is in a deadlock with the national military.

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

After taking el-Fasher, the RSF now controls the majority of inhabited territory west of the Nile.

Following reports of atrocities, Hemedti announced a probe into violations perpetrated by his soldiers.

Sudanese speculate Hemedti sees himself as ruler of an independent region or aspires to rule all of Sudan.

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

While Hemedti's forces commit violence in al-Fasher, he seems assured of impunity in a global community that overlooks.