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Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have taken control of the country’s presidential palace and international airport on Saturday, in a power struggle.
Sudan’s military says it is fighting again, although the paramilitary RSF accuses the army of attacking first.
The RSF is commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is currently the deputy head of the Sudanese Ruling Council and is commonly known as Hemedti.
Analysts estimate the number of troops at around 100,000, with bases and deployments across the country.
Evolution of RSF
The RSF grew out of the so-called Janjaweed militia that fought in the 2000s conflict in the Darfur region, where it was used by the government of longtime Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to help the army quell the rebellion.
An estimated 2.5 million people have been displaced and 300,000 have died in the conflict.
International Criminal Court prosecutors have accused government officials and Janjaweed commanders of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Over time the force grew, and was used as a border guard mainly to clamp down on irregular migration. In tandem, Hemedti’s business interests increased with the help of Bashir, and the family expanded its holdings in gold mining, livestock and infrastructure.
Since 2015, the RSF, together with the Sudanese army, began to send troops to fight in Yemen together with Saudi and Emirati forces, allowing Hemedti to establish relations with the Gulf powers.
In 2017, a law was passed that legalized the RSF as an independent security force. Military sources said that army leaders have long expressed concern about the development of Hemedti forces.
Role in the previous coup
In April 2019, the RSF participated in the military coup that overthrew Bashir. The following year, Hemedti signed a power-sharing agreement that made him a representative of the council headed by army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Before the signing in 2019, activists accused the RSF of being involved in the killing of dozens of pro-democracy protesters. Rights groups have also accused RSF soldiers of tribal violence. Hemedti removed immunity from some, allowing to sue. Last year he apologized for the state’s crimes against the Sudanese people, without elaborating.
The RSF participated in a coup in October 2021 that halted the transition to elections. Hemedti has since said he regrets the coup and expressed his approval for a new deal to restore full civilian rule.
Billions of dollars in international support and debt relief were frozen after the 2021 coup.
The Sudanese army and pro-democracy groups are demanding the integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces. Negotiations on this have been a source of tension that has delayed the final signing of a deal for a new government and the transition to elections.
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