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Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, previously made his fortune dealing in livestock and precious metals. Now, his RSF militia control nearly half of Sudan.

Consolidating Control in Darfur

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

Hated and dreaded by his adversaries, Hemedti is admired by his followers for his tenacity and his vow to dismantle the discredited state.

Modest Origins

Hemedti's origins are modest. He hails from the Mahariya clan of the camel-herding Rizeigat community, an Arab group that straddles Chad and Darfur.

His birth year is approximately 1975, like many from rural areas, his date and place of birth were never recorded.

Guided by his uncle Juma Dagolo, his clan moved to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, escaping war and in search of greener pastures.

Early Career

After leaving school in his early teens, Hemedti began earning by dealing in livestock across the desert to Libya and Egypt.

During that period, 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, escalating a major uprising in 2003.

Ascendancy Amid Conflict

In response, Bashir greatly enlarged the Janjaweed to spearhead his anti-rebel campaign. They soon became infamous for widespread atrocities.

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

A US investigation determined that the Janjaweed were responsible for genocide.

Calculated Moves

After the height of violence in 2004, Hemedti astutely managed his rise to become head of a powerful paramilitary force, a business network, and a political machine.

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

Subsequently, when rival militias rebelled, Hemedti commanded government forces that defeated them, gaining control Darfur's biggest gold mining site at Jebel Amir.

Rapidly, his business venture al-Gunaid became the top gold exporter in Sudan.

Formalizing Power

By 2013, Hemedti requested and obtained official recognition as head of the new paramilitary group, answering only to Bashir.

Former militiamen were absorbed into the RSF, receiving new uniforms, vehicles, and weapons.

International Connections

Hemedti's forces engaged in the Darfur conflict, struggled in the Nuba Mountains, and took on a role to guard the Libyan frontier.

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

By 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE requested Sudanese troops for the Yemen conflict. Hemedti struck his own agreement to provide his fighters as contractors.

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

Expanding Influence

Young Sudanese men flocked to RSF recruiting centers for cash payments of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti struck a partnership with the Russian Wagner organization, gaining expertise in exchange for business arrangements, particularly in gold.

His trip to Russia occurred on the day of the Ukraine war outbreak.

Turning on Allies

With rising demonstrations, Bashir ordered Hemedti's units to the city of Khartoum, dubbing him himayti.

This backfired. In 2019, when demonstrators demanded democracy, Bashir ordered the army to open fire. Instead, the generals overthrew him.

Initially, Hemedti was hailed as a new leader for Sudan. He attempted to rebrand, but this was short-lived.

Renewed Brutality

As the transition stalled, Hemedti deployed his forces, which killed hundreds, assaulted females, and reportedly drowned men in the River Nile.

Hemedti has denied that the RSF committed atrocities.

Under foreign pressure, the military and civil leaders agreed to a compromise, leading to an unstable coexistence for two years.

Current Conflict

As an investigation began examining military-owned companies, Burhan and Hemedti ousted the government and seized power.

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

In April 2023, RSF units moved to surround strategic locations in the capital. The attempted putsch failed, and violence broke out city-wide.

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

International organizations report thousands of casualties, with the US describing it ethnic cleansing.

Present Situation

The RSF has acquired advanced arms, including military drones, deployed against Burhan's stronghold and critical for the assault on al-Fasher.

With this weaponry, the RSF is in a strategic stalemate with the Sudanese army.

Hemedti has formed a parallel government, the so-called unity government, taking the chairmanship.

After taking el-Fasher, the RSF now holds almost all populated areas in western Sudan.

Following reports of mass killings, Hemedti announced a probe into violations committed by his soldiers.

Sudanese speculate Hemedti envisions himself as ruler of an independent region or still aims to rule all of Sudan.

Alternatively, he may emerge as a political puppet master, commanding businesses, a mercenary army, and a political party.

And as Hemedti's forces commit violence in al-Fasher, he seems assured of impunity in a world that does not care.