From trading camels to running gold mines and a militia
Mohamed Dagalo
Gen Mohamed Dagalo, known as Hemedti, rose from lowly beginnings to lead a feared militia in the conflict in Darfur about two decades ago.
That won him influence and made him one of the country’s richest and most powerful men.
Gen Dagalo, a former camel trader with little formal education, is leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. As deputy head of state has taken on some of Sudan’s most important portfolios since Omar Al Bashir was toppled.
These included peace negotiations with rebel groups and economic talks.
He first took up arms in the western Darfur region after men who attacked his trade convoy killed about 60 relatives and looted camels, said Muhammad Saad, a former assistant to the general.
Through Al Bashir, the RSF was legitimised.
He became a lieutenant general and had free rein to seize gold mines in Darfur.
As Sudan limped from one economic crisis to another, he became wealthy.
“I’m not the first man to have gold mines. It’s true, we have gold mines and there’s nothing preventing us from working in gold,” Gen Dagalo told the BBC.
After years of supporting Al Bashir, Gen Dagalo took part in the move in 2019 to topple the former president.
Under a civilian- military partnership set up afterwards, Gen Dagalo wasted no time in trying to shape the future of Sudan.
He spoke in public about the need for “real democracy” and met the ambassadors of western states.
In October 2021, the military seized power in Sudan, ending the civilian-military power-sharing deal.
Gen Dagalo has said the military was prepared to hand over power if there was an agreement or elections.
Sudan’s army spoke last week of a risk of confrontation after RSF forces gathered, emphasising the friction between the forces.
“I have long believed that he [Gen Dagalo] is an existential threat not only to Sudan’s democratic transition, but to its very viability as a state,” said Ahmed El Gaili, a Sudanese lawyer.