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Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, previously made his fortune trading camels and gold. Currently, his RSF militia hold sway over around 50% of the Sudanese territory.

Seizing Power in Darfur

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

Hated and dreaded by his opponents, Hemedti is admired by his loyalists for his determination and his promise to dismantle the corrupt state.

Humble Beginnings

His background is humble. He comes from the Mahariya section of the Rizeigat tribe, an Arab group that straddles Chad and Darfur.

Born around 1974, like many from rural areas, 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 seeking better opportunities.

Initial Ventures

Dropping out of education in his early teens, Hemedti started making money by dealing in livestock across the Sahara to neighboring countries.

During that period, Darfur was Sudan's wild west—poor, ignored by the government of then-President Bashir.

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

Rise Through Violence

As a countermeasure, Bashir massively expanded 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 attacking the village of Adwa in November 2004, claiming the lives of 126 people, including 36 children.

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

Calculated Moves

After the peak of violence in 2004, Hemedti skillfully navigated his rise to become head of a influential militia, a corporate empire, and a political machine.

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

Later, when other Janjaweed units rebelled, Hemedti commanded government forces that defeated them, gaining control Darfur's biggest gold mining site at Jebel Amir.

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

Formalizing Power

In 2013, Hemedti requested and obtained formal status as head of the new paramilitary group, answering only to Bashir.

Former militiamen were absorbed into the RSF, getting modern equipment and training.

International Connections

The RSF fought in Darfur, struggled in the Nuba Mountains, and took on a role to police the Libyan frontier.

Ostensibly stopping illegal crossings, Hemedti's officers also engaged in extortion and people-trafficking.

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, beginning a close relationship with Emirati leadership.

Growing Power

Young Sudanese men trekked to RSF recruiting centers for signing bonuses of up to six thousand dollars.

Hemedti formed an alliance with Russia's Wagner Group, receiving training in exchange for commercial dealings, particularly in the gold trade.

He visited Moscow coincided with the day of the invasion of Ukraine.

Political Betrayal

As protests grew, Bashir ordered Hemedti's units to the capital Khartoum, dubbing him himayti.

This backfired. In 2019, when demonstrators demanded democracy, Bashir ordered the army to open fire. Instead, the military leaders deposed him.

For a time, Hemedti was hailed as a fresh face for Sudan. He tried to reposition himself, but that lasted only weeks.

Return to Violence

As the transition stalled, Hemedti deployed his forces, which killed hundreds, raped women, and reportedly executed men in the Nile.

Hemedti has denied that the RSF committed atrocities.

Pressed by international powers, the military and civil leaders reached a deal, leading to an uneasy partnership for two years.

Current Conflict

When a committee started looking into 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.

Last year, RSF units attempted to seize strategic locations in the capital. The takeover effort failed, and violence broke out city-wide.

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

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

Current Status

The RSF has acquired modern weapons, including military drones, deployed against Burhan's stronghold and crucial in the assault on al-Fasher.

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

Hemedti has created a rival administration, the so-called unity government, appointing himself leader.

After taking el-Fasher, the RSF now controls the majority of populated areas in western Sudan.

After allegations of mass killings, Hemedti announced a probe into violations committed by his fighters.

Sudanese speculate Hemedti envisions himself as ruler of an independent region or still aims to control the entire country.

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

While Hemedti's forces commit violence in al-Fasher, he appears confident of avoiding consequences in a global community that overlooks.