The U.N. human rights office reported that a mass grave in Sudan’s West Darfur contained the bodies of at least 87 people, including women and children. The office stated that it had credible information indicating that these individuals were killed by the country’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). RSF officials denied any involvement and claimed that the paramilitary group was not involved in the conflict in West Darfur.
The RSF is led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who was previously the deputy head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council. The RSF is estimated to have around 100,000 members and has bases and deployments throughout the country.
Since April 15, the RSF has been engaged in a war with the army, resulting in a significant humanitarian crisis in the region. Despite facing airstrikes from the army, the mobile RSF fighters have continued to fight.
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias, which were utilized by the government of former President Omar al-Bashir to suppress a rebellion in the Darfur region during the 2000s. The conflict resulted in the displacement of approximately 2.5 million people and the deaths of 300,000 individuals. Government officials and Janjaweed commanders were accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, but Hemedti was not charged.
Over time, the RSF forces expanded and were employed as border guards to combat irregular migration. Concurrently, Hemedti’s business interests grew, and his family acquired holdings in gold mining, livestock, and infrastructure.
In 2015, the RSF, alongside Sudan’s army, joined the war in Yemen, fighting alongside Saudi and Emirati troops. This allowed Hemedti to establish connections with the Gulf powers.
In 2017, a law was passed to legitimize the RSF as an independent security force. The army’s leadership had expressed concerns about the development of Hemedti’s forces.
In April 2019, the RSF played a role in the ousting of President Bashir during a popular uprising. Later that year, Hemedti signed a power-sharing agreement that made him the deputy of the ruling council led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Prior to the signing in 2019, activists accused the RSF of participating in the killing of numerous pro-democracy protesters. Rights groups have also accused RSF soldiers of engaging in tribal violence. Hemedti removed immunity from some individuals, allowing for their prosecution. He later apologized for the state’s crimes against the Sudanese people without providing further details.
In October 2021, the RSF participated in a coup that disrupted the transition to elections. Hemedti expressed regret for the coup and supported a new agreement to restore a fully civilian government before the elections.
The Sudanese army and pro-democracy groups demanded the integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces. This, along with the chain of command under a new transition, became points of contention that contributed to the outbreak of fighting.
In conclusion, the article provides information about the RSF, including its involvement in the conflict in West Darfur, its origins as Janjaweed militias, and its expansion and business interests. It also highlights key events involving the RSF, such as its participation in the war in Yemen, its role in the ousting of President Bashir, and its involvement in a coup. The article emphasizes the disputes surrounding the RSF’s integration into the regular armed forces and the chain of command during the transition period.
