{From Camel Trader to Warlord: The Rise of a Man Who Now Controls a Major Portion of Sudan

Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, once earned his living dealing in livestock and precious metals. Now, his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces hold sway over nearly half of the Sudanese territory.

Consolidating Control in Darfur

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

Feared and despised by his enemies, Hemedti is admired by his loyalists for his ruthlessness and his pledge to dismantle the corrupt state.

Modest Origins

His background is humble. He comes from the Mahariya clan of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arabic-speaking group that straddles the Chad-Sudan border region.

His birth year is approximately 1975, as is common in remote regions, his exact birth details were not officially registered.

Guided by his uncle Juma, his family moved to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, 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 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 attacked villages of the native Fur communities, triggering a major uprising in 2003.

Ascendancy Amid Conflict

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

Hemedti's unit was part of this, accused in destroying the village of Adwah in late 2004, claiming the lives of 126 people, including 36 children.

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

Strategic Maneuvering

In the years following the height of violence in 2004, Hemedti astutely managed his ascent to become head of a powerful paramilitary force, a corporate empire, and a political machine.

He briefly mutinied, demanding back-pay for his fighters, advancements, and a government role for his sibling. Bashir granted most of his demands.

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

Rapidly, his family company al-Gunaid became Sudan's largest gold exporter.

Institutionalizing Influence

By 2013, Hemedti asked for and received formal status as head 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 Darfur, performed less successfully in the Nuba Mountains, and accepted a contract to guard the border with Libya.

Supposedly stopping illegal crossings, Hemedti's officers also excelled at corruption and human smuggling.

By 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.

Growing Power

Recruits trekked to RSF recruiting centers for signing bonuses of up to $6,000.

Hemedti struck a partnership with Russia's Wagner Group, receiving training in exchange for business arrangements, particularly in the gold trade.

His trip to Russia coincided with the day of the invasion of Ukraine.

Political Betrayal

As protests grew, Bashir deployed Hemedti's units to the city of Khartoum, nicknaming him "my protector".

It was a miscalculation. In 2019, when protesters called for change, Bashir instructed troops to shoot. Instead, the generals deposed 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

When power wasn't transferred, Hemedti deployed his forces, which committed massacres, raped women, and reportedly drowned men in the River Nile.

Hemedti has denied that the RSF engaged in war crimes.

Pressed by international powers, the generals and civilians reached a deal, leading to an uneasy partnership for two years.

Ongoing War

As an investigation started looking into army businesses, Burhan and Hemedti dismissed the civilians 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 across the city.

Conflict intensified in Darfur, with the RSF mounting a vicious campaign against the Masalit community.

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

Current Status

Hemedti's forces obtained modern weapons, including military drones, deployed against Burhan's stronghold and crucial in the capture of al-Fasher.

Equipped thus, the RSF is in a strategic stalemate with the Sudanese army.

Hemedti has created a rival administration, the so-called unity government, taking the chairmanship.

With the capture of al-Fasher, the RSF now controls the majority of inhabited territory in western Sudan.

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

Sudanese speculate Hemedti envisions 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, controlling a vast network of interests.

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