🔗 Share this article

The Sudanese commander known as Hemedti, once earned his living dealing in livestock and precious metals. Now, his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces hold sway over a vast expanse of Sudan.

Consolidating Control in Darfur

The RSF recently achieved a significant victory by overrunning the city of al-Fasher, which was the final army garrison in the Darfur area.

Feared and despised by his adversaries, Hemedti is respected by his supporters for his ruthlessness and his promise to tear down the corrupt state.

Humble Beginnings

His background is humble. He hails from the Mahariya clan 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.

Led by his uncle Juma, his family relocated to Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, escaping war and in search of greener pastures.

Initial Ventures

Dropping out of education in his early teens, Hemedti started making money by dealing in livestock across the desert to Libya and Egypt.

At that time, Darfur was Sudan's wild west—impoverished, neglected by the government of then-President Omar al-Bashir.

Local armed groups known as the Janjaweed attacked villages of the indigenous Fur, triggering a major uprising in 2003.

Rise Through Violence

In response, Bashir massively expanded the Janjaweed to spearhead his anti-rebel campaign. They quickly gained notoriety for widespread atrocities.

Hemedti's force was among them, implicated in attacking the village of Adwah in late 2004, claiming the lives of 126 people, among them dozens of minors.

A US investigation concluded that the Janjaweed were guilty of crimes against humanity.

Calculated Moves

In the years following the peak of violence in 2004, Hemedti astutely managed his rise to become head of a powerful paramilitary force, a business network, and a political organization.

He briefly mutinied, demanding unpaid salaries for his soldiers, promotions, and a government role for his brother. Bashir acceded to many of his requests.

Subsequently, when rival militias rebelled, Hemedti led loyalist troops that crushed them, taking over Darfur's largest artisanal gold mine at Jebel Amir.

Quickly, his family company al-Gunaid became the top gold exporter in Sudan.

Institutionalizing Influence

In 2013, Hemedti asked for and received formal status as commander of the newly formed Rapid Support Forces, answering only to Bashir.

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

Regional Ambitions

The RSF fought in the Darfur conflict, struggled in the Nuba region, and accepted a role to guard the Libyan frontier.

Ostensibly stopping illegal crossings, Hemedti's commanders also excelled at extortion and people-trafficking.

By 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE asked Sudanese troops for the Yemen conflict. Hemedti negotiated a separate deal to provide RSF mercenaries.

The Abu Dhabi connection proved highly significant, beginning a close relationship with UAE officials.

Growing Power

Young Sudanese men trekked to RSF enlistment offices for cash payments of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti formed an alliance with the Russian Wagner organization, gaining expertise in exchange for commercial dealings, particularly in the gold trade.

His trip to Russia occurred on the day of the invasion of Ukraine.

Political Betrayal

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

It was a miscalculation. In 2019, when protesters demanded democracy, Bashir ordered the army to open fire. Instead, the military leaders deposed him.

Initially, 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 committed massacres, raped women, and allegedly executed men in the Nile.

Hemedti has rejected that the RSF committed atrocities.

Pressed by international powers, the military and civil leaders agreed to a compromise, leading to an unstable coexistence for two years.

Ongoing War

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

But they fell out. Burhan demanded the RSF be integrated into the military. Hemedti refused.

In April 2023, RSF units moved to surround key bases in Khartoum. The takeover effort was unsuccessful, and fighting erupted across the city.

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

The UN estimates thousands of casualties, with the American officials calling it genocide.

Present Situation

The RSF has acquired modern weapons, including military drones, deployed against army positions and crucial in the capture of al-Fasher.

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

Hemedti has formed a rival administration, the "Government of Peace and Unity", appointing himself leader.

After taking el-Fasher, the RSF now holds the majority of populated areas west of the Nile.

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

Many believe Hemedti envisions himself as president of a breakaway state or aspires to control the entire country.

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 seems assured of avoiding consequences in a global community that overlooks.