KHARTOUM, July 16 — Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces known as Hemedti, remains a central figure in Sudan’s civil war as of 2024, according to the record of his rise and the conflict he ignited. Born in 1975 in Darfur, Dagalo’s trajectory from a camel trader to the leader of the Janjaweed militias in the early 2000s Darfur conflict is documented. In 2013, President Omar al-Bashir formally established the Rapid Support Forces and appointed Dagalo as its commander.
The timeline shows Dagalo played a role in the 2019 coup that ousted al-Bashir, and he later served as vice president of the Sovereign Council, Sudan’s transitional government.
The Rebellion and War
On the timeline, April 2023 marks the critical point when Dagalo led the RSF in a rebellion against the Sudanese Armed Forces, triggering a devastating civil war. Sources familiar with the conflict report that the RSF has been accused of war crimes, including mass killings and sexual violence, by the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Dagalo in September 2023 for his role in the conflict.
His wealth, derived from gold mining interests in Darfur, and his ties to foreign powers, including the United Arab Emirates, are documented in the record.
Territorial Control and Ongoing Conflict
As of 2024, the RSF controls large parts of Darfur and Khartoum. According to the filing, Dagalo remains a central figure in the conflict, with no resolution in sight. The United Nations and human rights groups continue to document allegations of war crimes by the RSF.
The record shows that Dagalo’s rise from a camel trader to a commander of the Janjaweed militias in the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s laid the groundwork for his later role. The formal establishment of the RSF in 2013 by President Omar al-Bashir gave him a state-sanctioned military force.
What to Watch Next
The U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions from September 2023 remain in place. The conflict shows no signs of abating, with the RSF controlling large parts of Darfur and Khartoum. The United Nations and human rights groups continue to document allegations of war crimes by the RSF. Dagalo’s ties to foreign powers, including the United Arab Emirates, and his wealth from gold mining interests in Darfur, remain factors in the ongoing conflict.
