{From Camel Trader to Warlord: The Rise of a Man Who Now Commands Half of Sudan
Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, once earned his living trading camels and gold. Now, his RSF militia control a vast expanse of Sudan.
Consolidating Control in Darfur
The RSF recently achieved a major triumph by overrunning the city of el-Fasher, which was the final army garrison in the Darfur area.
Feared and despised by his enemies, Hemedti is revered by his followers for his tenacity and his promise to tear down the discredited state.
Modest Origins
His background is humble. He hails from the Mahariya clan of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arabic-speaking group that straddles the Chad-Sudan border region.
Born around 1974, as is common in remote regions, his exact birth details were never recorded.
Guided by his uncle Juma Dagolo, his clan moved to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, fleeing conflict and seeking better opportunities.
Initial Ventures
After leaving school in his adolescence, Hemedti started making money by trading camels across the desert to Libya and Egypt.
At that time, Darfur was a lawless frontier—poor, ignored by the government of then-President Omar al-Bashir.
Local armed groups known as the Janjawid 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 anti-rebel campaign. They soon became infamous for widespread atrocities.
Hemedti's unit was part of this, implicated in attacking the village of Adwa in November 2004, claiming the lives of over a hundred individuals, among them 36 children.
A US investigation determined that the Janjaweed were guilty of genocide.
Strategic Maneuvering
In the years following the height of violence in 2004, Hemedti astutely managed his ascent to become leader of a powerful paramilitary force, a corporate empire, and a political organization.
He briefly mutinied, requesting back-pay for his fighters, advancements, and a government role for his sibling. Bashir acceded to many of his requests.
Subsequently, when other Janjaweed units rebelled, Hemedti commanded loyalist troops that crushed them, taking over Darfur's largest artisanal gold mine at Jabel Amir.
Quickly, his business venture al-Gunaid became the top gold exporter in Sudan.
Institutionalizing Influence
In 2013, Hemedti requested and obtained formal status as commander of the newly formed Rapid Support Forces, answering only to Bashir.
The Janjaweed were integrated into the RSF, getting new uniforms, vehicles, and weapons.
International Connections
The RSF fought in Darfur, performed less successfully in the Nuba Mountains, and accepted a role to police the Libyan frontier.
Supposedly stopping illegal crossings, Hemedti's commanders also engaged in extortion and people-trafficking.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE requested Sudanese troops for the Yemen conflict. Hemedti struck his own agreement to provide RSF mercenaries.
His ties with the UAE proved highly significant, marking the start of a strong alliance with Emirati leadership.
Growing Power
Young Sudanese men flocked to RSF enlistment offices for signing bonuses of up to six thousand dollars.
Hemedti formed an alliance with Russia's Wagner Group, gaining expertise in exchange for commercial dealings, including in the gold trade.
He visited Moscow coincided with the day of the Ukraine war outbreak.
Political Betrayal
With rising demonstrations, Bashir ordered Hemedti's units to the capital Khartoum, nicknaming him himayti.
It was a miscalculation. In April 2019, when protesters demanded democracy, Bashir instructed troops to shoot. Instead, the military leaders overthrew him.
For a time, Hemedti was hailed as a new leader for Sudan. He tried to reposition himself, but this was short-lived.
Renewed Brutality
As the transition stalled, Hemedti deployed his forces, which killed hundreds, raped women, and allegedly drowned men in the Nile.
Hemedti has denied that the RSF engaged in war crimes.
Under foreign pressure, the generals and civilians agreed to a compromise, leading to an unstable coexistence for several years.
Current Conflict
When a committee began examining army businesses, Burhan and Hemedti ousted the government and took control.
However, they disagreed. Burhan insisted the RSF be integrated into the military. Hemedti resisted.
In April 2023, RSF units moved to surround key bases in the capital. The attempted putsch failed, and fighting erupted 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.
Current Status
The RSF has acquired advanced arms, including military drones, used to strike Burhan's stronghold and crucial in the capture of al-Fasher.
With this weaponry, the RSF is in a deadlock with the Sudanese army.
Hemedti has formed a parallel government, the so-called unity government, taking the chairmanship.
With the capture of el-Fasher, the RSF now holds almost all populated areas in western Sudan.
After allegations of mass killings, Hemedti declared an investigation into abuses committed by his soldiers.
Many believe Hemedti sees himself as president of a breakaway state or aspires to rule all of Sudan.
It's also possible, he may emerge as a behind-the-scenes power broker, commanding businesses, a mercenary army, and a political party.
And as Hemedti's forces commit violence in al-Fasher, he appears confident of impunity in a world that does not care.
