{From Camel Trader to Warlord: The Rise of a Man Who Now Dominates Half of Sudan
Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, previously made his fortune dealing in livestock and precious metals. Now, his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces control nearly half of the Sudanese territory.
Seizing Power in Darfur
Hemedti's forces scored a major victory by overrunning the city of el-Fasher, which was the final army garrison in the Darfur area.
Feared and despised by his opponents, Hemedti is admired by his followers for his ruthlessness and his promise to overthrow the discredited state.
Humble Beginnings
His background is humble. He comes from the Mahariya section of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arab group that spans the Chad-Sudan border region.
His birth year is approximately 1975, 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 late 20th century, escaping war and in search of greener pastures.
Early Career
Dropping out of education in his adolescence, Hemedti started making money by dealing in livestock across the Sahara to Libya and Egypt.
During that period, Darfur was a lawless frontier—poor, neglected by the government of then-President Bashir.
Arab militiamen known as the Janjaweed attacked villages of the indigenous Fur, escalating a full-scale rebellion in 2003.
Rise Through Violence
As a countermeasure, Bashir greatly enlarged the Janjaweed to lead his anti-rebel campaign. They quickly gained notoriety for burning, looting, and killing.
Hemedti's force was among them, implicated in destroying the village of Adwah in late 2004, claiming the lives of 126 people, among them 36 children.
International inquiries determined that the Janjaweed were responsible for genocide.
Calculated Moves
After the peak of violence in 2004, Hemedti skillfully navigated his ascent to become leader of a powerful paramilitary force, a business network, and a political organization.
At one point he rebelled, demanding unpaid salaries for his fighters, promotions, and a political position for his brother. Bashir granted most of his demands.
Later, when other Janjaweed units mutinied, Hemedti led government forces that defeated them, taking over Darfur's largest artisanal gold mine at Jabel Amir.
Rapidly, his business venture al-Gunaid became the top gold exporter in Sudan.
Institutionalizing Influence
By 2013, Hemedti asked for and received official recognition as commander of the newly formed Rapid Support Forces, reporting directly to Bashir.
The Janjaweed were integrated into the RSF, receiving new uniforms, vehicles, and weapons.
Regional Ambitions
The RSF fought in the Darfur conflict, performed less successfully in the Nuba region, and took on a role to guard the border with Libya.
Supposedly curbing illicit migration, Hemedti's commanders also excelled at extortion and people-trafficking.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE requested Sudanese troops for the Yemen conflict. Hemedti negotiated a separate deal to provide RSF mercenaries.
His ties with the UAE proved most consequential, marking the start of a strong alliance with Emirati leadership.
Expanding Influence
Recruits trekked 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 commercial dealings, including in the gold trade.
He visited Moscow occurred on the day of the Ukraine war outbreak.
Turning on Allies
With rising demonstrations, Bashir deployed Hemedti's units to the capital Khartoum, dubbing him himayti.
It was a miscalculation. In April 2019, when demonstrators called for change, Bashir instructed troops to shoot. Instead, the generals deposed him.
For a time, Hemedti was celebrated as a new leader for Sudan. He tried to reposition himself, but that lasted only weeks.
Return to Violence
When power wasn't transferred, Hemedti unleashed the RSF, which killed hundreds, raped women, and reportedly drowned 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 unstable coexistence for two years.
Current Conflict
When a committee started looking into military-owned companies, Burhan and Hemedti dismissed the civilians and took control.
However, they disagreed. Burhan demanded the RSF be integrated into the military. Hemedti refused.
Last year, RSF units moved to surround strategic locations in the capital. The takeover effort was unsuccessful, and violence broke out city-wide.
Conflict intensified in Darfur, with the RSF launching brutal attacks against the Masalit people.
International organizations report thousands of casualties, with the American officials calling it ethnic cleansing.
Present Situation
Hemedti's forces obtained advanced arms, including military drones, deployed against army positions and crucial in the capture of el-Fasher.
Equipped thus, the RSF is in a deadlock with the Sudanese army.
Hemedti has formed a parallel government, the "Government of Peace and Unity", taking the chairmanship.
With the capture of al-Fasher, the RSF now controls almost all populated areas in western Sudan.
After allegations of mass killings, Hemedti announced a probe into abuses perpetrated by his soldiers.
Sudanese speculate Hemedti envisions 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 continue atrocities in el-Fasher, he appears confident of avoiding consequences in a global community that overlooks.