Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, known as 'Hemedti', has emerged as a dominant figure on Sudan's political stage, controlling half of the country through his paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF scored a significant victory recently by overrunning the city of el-Fasher, marking the end of Sudanese army presence in the western region of Darfur.
Widely feared and respected, Hemedti combines a reputation for ruthless strategy with a promise to dismantle a legacy of government corruption.
Born into a camel-herding family in the Rizeigat community that spans Chad and Darfur, Hemedti's ascent began with trading camels across the desert, eventually leading him to militarize as conflicts escalated in Sudan.
The emergence of the Janjaweed militia during the Darfur conflict, initially targeting indigenous communities, paved the way for Hemedti's rise as he took control of local gold mines during a civil uprising against Omar al-Bashir.
With the RSF conflated with Janjaweed forces, Hemedti transitioned to jointly lead the army, later becoming a powerful paramilitary leader reporting directly to Bashir, who saw him as a potential ally.
However, the political landscape shifted drastically after Bashir's overthrow in 2019, revealing Hemedti's ambitions to consolidate his command amid worsening civil unrest.
As the war raged again in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese army, chaos reigned over Khartoum and Darfur, with Hemedti seeking to solidify his political ambitions even as allegations of war crimes emerged.
As of now, he commands a vast area of Sudan, showcasing his military strength while simultaneously constructing a corporate empire based on the country's gold resources. His dynamic role in both military and civilian affairs epitomizes the conflict's complexity, as he navigates the path of a potential power broker of the future.
