Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo / Hemeti

The force is commanded on the ground by Brig. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known in Sudan as 'Hemeti'. Hemeti is a former Border Guard commander and Janjaweed militia leader. He is the nephew of Juma Dagalo, the traditional chief of the Awlad Mansour section of the Mahariya clan of the Abbala (camel-herders) Rizeigat Arabs. Hemeti reported to NISS Maj. Gen. Abbas Abdelaziz, based in Khartoum. Overall command was said to reside with NISS Director General Ali El Nasih El Galla.

“Hemedti” is the diminutive name for ‘little Mohamed’, which Dagolo ironically kept because of his youthful looks. Hemedti’s grandfather, Dagolo, was the head of a subclan of the Mahariya Rizeigat Arab tribe that grazed the pastures of Chad and Darfur. Young men from the camel-herding Mahariya — landless and marginalized in both countries — formed the core element of the Janjaweed militia that fought in Darfur. Hemedti is from the farthest of Sudan’s far peripheries, an outsider to the Khartoum political establishment. Hemedti is a school dropout turned trader, without formal education or military staff college— the tsnk ‘General’ was awarded on account of his proficiency in fighting and bargaining.

Hilal’s cousin, Muhammad Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti,” is a member of the Mahariya branch of the northern Rizayqat and Hilal’s former Janjaweed deputy. Daglo led the government’s 2017 disarmament campaign in Darfur, intended to confiscate weapons held by civilians, rebel groups and government-controlled militias such as the Popular Defense Forces (PDF) and the Central Reserve Police (CRP). The RSF deployed 10,000 men and an armored regiment in North Darfur to deal with the threat posed by Hilal and his followers.

Uncontrolled elements of Mohammed Hamdan Dagolo, alias “Hemmeti”, head of the Rapid Support Force of the Sudan, were also reportedly involved in arms trafficking into the Central African Republic.

Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemeti), who apologized for taking part in the transitional military junta, stressed his demand for six conditions to meet the Sudanese people’s demands, including the establishment of special anti-corruption courts. Hemeti said in a statement 13 Aprik 2019 that developments of the events require that the crisis be addressed in a way that satisfies the Sudanese people and puts the country back on track. He stressed the need to open dialogue with various segments of society, and organize meetings with leaders and heads of political parties, Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), youth leaders and leaders of civil society organizations, and setting a transitional period of no more than three to six months, during which the constitution will be revised through a drafting committee with the participation of all Sudanese forces.

The (RSF) leader also called for the establishment of public courts and prosecution to combat corruption and to hold fair elections, in accordance with international local control and in accordance with an election law agreed between the stakeholders. He pledged that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF would defend the country and the people with the rest of the armed forces.

General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was appointed deputy leader of the ruling military council, according to Sudanese state television. Footage showed Hemeti, who commands the paramilitary unit Rapid Support Forces (RSF), being sworn in 13 April 2019. Since becoming deputy chairman of the Transitional Military Council that toppled former President Omar al-Bashir, Hemitte had been engaged in intensive meetings with Western ambassadors to clarify the council’s view in running the two-year interim period. The deputy chairman of the Transitional Military Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan (Hemitte), continued his meetings with ambassadors accredited to the Sudan. Hemitte briefed the ambassadors on the circumstances and developments in the country and briefed them on the reasons that led to the formation of a transitional military council for this phase, the role of the Council and the steps and measures taken to preserve the safety and security of the Sudan.

The Sudanese ruling transitional military council’s deputy head said that the Sudanese forces backing the Yemeni legitimate government against the pro-Iranian Houthi militia will remain in Yemen, Sudan news agency (SUNA) reported on 15 April 2019. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - widely known as Himeidti - said in a statement to SUNA: “We are adhering to our commitment to the coalition, and our forces will remain until the coalition fulfils its goals.”

A decade before, in 2008 in South Darfur, break-away groups from former Arab opposition leader Mohamed Hamdan ("Hemeti") had only a small force of approximately six vehicles near Tulus. UN sources saw former Hemeti fighters as responsible for recent security incidents near Firdus.

On 12 April 2019 the commander of the government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (aka Hemitte) refused to participate in the Transitional Military Council which took over power following the ouster of former President Omer al-Bashir. On 11 April 2019, the Defence Minister and First Vice- President Awad Ibn Ouf overthrew President Omer al-Bashir and announced his arrest in a safe place. He said the Supreme Security Committee, including the armed forces, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), RSF and the police took full responsibility for changing the whole regime during a two-year transitional period.

In a statement published on the RSF webpage on 12 April 2019, Hemitte said: “I’d like to announce to the Sudanese people that I, in my capacity as commander of the RSF, have refused to participate in the military council since 11 April”. He pointed out that RSF would remain part of the armed forces and would work to maintain the unity of the country and respect for human rights. Hemitte added his forces would continue to side with the choices of the Sudanese people.

The commander issued a statement in which he stressed support for the people’s demand of handing over power to a civil transitional government, saying the RSF rejects any solutions that don’t meet the desires of the Sudanese people. He also asked the leaders of the Sudanese Professionals Association and the various opposition parties and the youth to open the door of dialogue and engage in negotiations to achieve solutions that satisfy the desire of the people and protects the country against from sliding into chaos.