About our Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo news
Latest news on Hemeti, also known as Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a Sudanese military leader and politician.
Hamdan Dagalo is the deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, the ruling body of Sudan since the 2019 coup d'état that ousted former president Omar al-Bashir. He is also the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that emerged from the Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities in Darfur.
Dagalo, also known as Hemetti, was born in Darfur in 1974 or 1975 to a nomadic Arab tribe called the Rizeigat. He joined the Janjaweed in 2003 and fought against rebel groups in Darfur on behalf of al-Bashir's regime. He was accused of being involved in massacres, rapes, and looting of civilians in Darfur by human rights groups and the International Criminal Court.
In 2013, Dagalo formed the RSF as a more professional and disciplined version of the Janjaweed, and became its leader. The RSF was integrated into the Sudanese army and received training and equipment from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The RSF fought against rebels in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, as well as in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition.
In 2019, Dagalo sided with the protesters who demanded al-Bashir's resignation and helped overthrow him in a coup. He became the deputy head of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that took power after the coup, and later of the Transitional Sovereignty Council that replaced it after a power-sharing deal with civilian opposition groups. However, he also faced criticism and suspicion for his role in the violent crackdown on protesters by the RSF, especially during the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019, when more than 100 people were killed by security forces.
Dagalo is considered to be one of the most influential and wealthy figures in Sudan. He has a large personal militia, a loyal tribal base, and a vast business empire that includes mining, transport, construction, and agriculture.
Dagalo has recently deployed his RSF troops in Khartoum and other cities amid rising tensions and clashes with other military factions.