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Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, previously made his fortune trading camels and gold. Now, his RSF militia control around 50% of the Sudanese territory.

Seizing Power in Darfur

The RSF recently achieved a notable victory by capturing the city of al-Fasher, which was the final army garrison in the western region.

Feared and despised by his adversaries, Hemedti is admired by his followers for his ruthlessness and his pledge to dismantle the discredited state.

Modest Origins

Hemedti's origins are modest. He comes from the Mahariya clan of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arabic-speaking group that spans Chad and Darfur.

Born around 1974, like many from rural areas, his date and place of birth were never recorded.

Guided by his uncle Juma Dagolo, his clan relocated to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, fleeing conflict and seeking better opportunities.

Early Career

Dropping out of education in his early teens, Hemedti began earning by trading camels across the desert to neighboring countries.

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

Arab militiamen known as the Janjawid attacked villages of the indigenous Fur, escalating a full-scale rebellion in 2003.

Ascendancy Amid Conflict

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

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

International inquiries concluded 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 influential militia, a corporate empire, and a political machine.

He briefly mutinied, requesting back-pay for his soldiers, promotions, and a government role for his brother. Bashir acceded to many of his requests.

Later, when rival militias mutinied, Hemedti led government forces that crushed them, taking over Darfur's biggest gold mining site at Jebel Amir.

Quickly, his family company Al-Gunaid became Sudan's largest gold exporter.

Institutionalizing Influence

In 2013, Hemedti asked for and received official recognition as commander of the new paramilitary group, reporting directly to Bashir.

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

International Connections

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

Ostensibly curbing illicit migration, Hemedti's commanders also engaged in corruption and human smuggling.

By 2015, Gulf nations requested Sudanese troops for the war in Yemen. Hemedti negotiated a separate deal to provide RSF mercenaries.

His ties with the UAE proved highly significant, marking the start of a strong alliance with Emirati leadership.

Expanding Influence

Recruits flocked to RSF recruiting centers for cash payments of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti struck a partnership with Russia's Wagner Group, gaining expertise in exchange for business arrangements, including in gold.

His trip to Russia coincided with the day of the Ukraine war outbreak.

Turning on Allies

As protests grew, Bashir deployed Hemedti's units to the city of Khartoum, dubbing him himayti.

This backfired. 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 attempted to rebrand, but that lasted only weeks.

Return to Violence

As the transition stalled, Hemedti deployed his forces, which committed massacres, assaulted females, and reportedly drowned men in the Nile.

Hemedti has rejected that the RSF committed atrocities.

Pressed by international powers, the military and civil leaders reached a deal, leading to an unstable coexistence for several years.

Current Conflict

When a committee started looking into army businesses, Burhan and Hemedti ousted the government and took control.

However, they disagreed. Burhan demanded the RSF be integrated into the military. Hemedti refused.

In April 2023, RSF units attempted to seize strategic locations in the capital. The attempted putsch was unsuccessful, and fighting erupted across the city.

Violence exploded in Darfur, with the RSF mounting a vicious campaign against the Masalit people.

International organizations report thousands of casualties, with the American officials calling it ethnic cleansing.

Present Situation

Hemedti's forces obtained modern weapons, including sophisticated drones, deployed against army positions and critical for the capture of el-Fasher.

With this weaponry, the RSF is in a deadlock with the national military.

Hemedti has created a rival administration, 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.

After allegations of mass killings, Hemedti declared an investigation into abuses committed by his fighters.

Many believe Hemedti envisions himself as ruler of an independent region or aspires to rule all of Sudan.

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

And as Hemedti's troops commit violence in el-Fasher, he appears confident of impunity in a global community that overlooks.