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Rapid Support Forces

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Rapid Support Forces
Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع
Emblem
FoundedAugust 2013
AllegianceGovernment of Sudan (until 2023)
TypeParamilitary
Size100,000 (2023)[1]
Part ofNational Intelligence and Security Service and Sudanese Armed Forces (formerly)
Engagements
Websitehttps://rapidsupportforce.com/
Commanders
CommanderMohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti")
Deputy headAbdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo[2]
East Darfur CommanderAbdel Rahman Jumma
Insignia
AbbreviationRSF
Flag
Dates of operation2013–present
Major actionsKhartoum massacre
Masalit massacres

Eastern Gezira State massacres

Part ofSudanese Armed Forces (until 2023)
Allies
Opponents

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) is a paramilitary force formerly operated by the government of Sudan. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which previously fought on behalf of the Sudanese government.[18][19] Its actions in Darfur were deemed crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.[15]

RSF has been administered by the National Intelligence and Security Service, while during military operations it has been commanded by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).[20] As of June 2019, the commander is General Hemedti (Muhamed Hamdan Dagalo).[21] During the Sudanese political crisis of 2019, the military junta that took control of the country employed the RSF to violently crack down on pro-democracy demonstrators.[21] Along with other security forces, RSF carried out the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019.[22][23][24]

On 15 April 2023, fighting broke out between the RSF and the SAF after the RSF mobilized its forces in cities across Sudan, including in Darfur.[25] The SAF has designated the RSF a rebel group. RSF forces claim to have occupied Khartoum International Airport and other areas in Khartoum.[26][needs update]

Origin

[edit]

RSF has its roots in the Janjaweed militias used by the Sudanese Government in its attempts to fight the anti-government insurgency during the War in Darfur. RSF was officially formed in 2013, following a restructuring and reactivation of Janjaweed militias in order to combat rebel groups in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile states, following joint attacks by Sudanese Revolutionary Front rebels in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.[2]

Leadership and numbers

[edit]

RSF is headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti"), who has been its leader since it was created in 2013 or 2014.[27][21] As of September 2019, Hemetti's brother Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo is deputy head of RSF.[2]

RSF was estimated by Human Rights Watch as having about 5,000–6,000 soldiers in February 2014 in Darfur.[15] In 2016–2017, RSF had 40,000 members participating in the Yemeni Civil War. In late October 2019, 10,000 had returned to Sudan.[17] In July 2019, about 1,000 RSF soldiers were present in Libya, supporting the Libyan National Army commanded by Khalifa Haftar.[16]

According to Reuters, as of 2023, the force numbers 100,000 people.[1]

Role

[edit]

Migration control

[edit]

In addition to its role in Darfur, RSF is deployed to patrol the border with Libya and round up Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees in response to the Khartoum process, which is an initiative between European and African states, including Sudan, to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.[28]

Business interests

[edit]

In November 2017, Hemetti used RSF to take over control of gold mines in the Darfur region, which led to him becoming one of the richest people in Sudan by 2019.[29] Hemetti's brother Abdul Rahim, deputy head of RSF, heads the Al Junaid (or Al Gunade) corporation involved in gold mining and trading in Sudan.[30]

In December 2019, a Global Witness investigation into RSF and Al Junaid argued that RSF and Al Junaid are closely linked in terms of financial transactions. Global Witness stated that "the RSF and [Al Junaid had] captured a swathe of the [Sudanese] gold industry and [were] likely using it to fund their operations." The General Manager of Al Junaid stated to Thomson Reuters that there were no close links between the two.[30]

RSF has two front companies called GSK, a Sudanese technology company, and Tradive General Trading LLC, a United Arab Emirates-based company, both controlled by Hemetti's brother Algoney Hamdan Dagalo.[30]

In April 2023, Al Jazeera reported that RSF had sought out Western public relations firms to burnish its image, including by editing Wikipedia pages.[31]

War in Darfur

[edit]
See also: International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur

During the War in Darfur, in 2014 and 2015, RSF "repeatedly attacked villages, burned and looted homes, beating, raping and executing villagers," aided by air and ground support from the Sudanese Armed Forces.[15] RSF executions and rapes typically took place in villages after rebels had left. The attacks were systematic enough to qualify as crimes against humanity according to Human Rights Watch.[15]

Foreign relations

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Relationship with the United Arab Emirates

[edit]

The gold mined in Sudan was sent to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo kept most of his money, which he used to fund his paramilitaries.[32][33][34] In 2019, Global Witness reported that UAE was a key supplier of military equipment to RSF.[30] Dagalo was funded by the United Arab Emirates and met with the leader of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in February 2022. According to Sudanese diplomats, his closest ally in the Emirates is the country's vice president, Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.[32][35]

Despite strained Sudan-UАЕ relations, gold shipments flowed freely from Sudan to Dubаi, with exports facing no obstacles and operating with official approval in Port Sudan. Political tensions didn't disrupt the lucrative trade, which continued despite the December 2023 expulsion of diplomats and accusations of smuggling. Atef Ahmed, the Secretary-General of the Goldsmiths Union, affirmed the ongoing flow of shipments to the UАЕ and the processing of others.[36]

The UAE, which was supporting the RSF, conducted a covert operation under the pretence of aiding refugees. The operation involved supplying potent weapons and drones to the RSF, providing medical treatment to wounded fighters, and airlifting severe cases to one of its military hospitals. The operation was headquartered at an airfield and a hospital in Amdjarass in Chad.[8]

In December 2023, a group of Democratic members of the U.S. Congress called on the UAE to cease its backing of the RSF. In a letter dated 19 December 2023, these lawmakers expressed their concerns regarding the UAE's tangible support, encompassing the provision of weaponry and supplies to the RSF. The U.S. representatives called on the UAE to collaborate with both the United States and the international community in order to facilitate a resolution that brings an end to the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the importance of a solution that aligns with the best interests of the Sudanese people.[37]

In March 2024, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed wrote a letter condemning the UAE’s support to RSF in the war including supplying weapons, equipment, and mercenaries. The 78 page complaint alleged that the UAE planned and supported the RSF’s aggression against Sudanese military with assistance from Chad, which was accused of complicity in the Emirates’ actions.[38] Sudan's government revealed that new supplies, including 1,200 four-wheel-drive vehicles, reached to the RSF militia from the UAE.[39] On 17 April 2024, the US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello said that the US is concerned about the UAE’s financial support to RSF, and alleged the UAE and Iran of complicity in the atrocities committed in the Sudan war.[40]

In July 2024, a leaked 41-page document sent to the UN security council claimed that four Emirati passports were recovered from a wrecked vehicle in the Omdurman city. As per the documents, the passports belonged to the UAE nationals who had links to the RSF. A source alleged that they belonged to UAE intelligence officers.[41]

On 9 September 2024, HRW reported that the RSF newly obtained advanced foreign-made weapons and military equipment. On examination of photos and videos of weapons used in the conflict that were posted on social media, the rights group identified that the UAE-based companies were associated with the weapons provided to RSF. In September 2023, the militants used Kornet missiles against the SAF, which were supplied by the Emirates. In April 2024, SAF found six shipping crates of thermobaric munitions with markings indicating a shipment to the UAE under a contract with Adasi, a subsidiary of Edge group. A January 2024 report by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan deemed the UAE’s alleged support to the RSF as "credible", and claimed that the Emirati weapons transfer constituted violations of the arms embargo.[42][43]

On 29 September 2024, the UAE alleged the Sudanese army of causing "significant damage" to the Emirati ambassador’s residence in Khartoum in a military aircraft attack. The Emirati foreign ministry said it would file a formal complaint with the United Nation and regional bodies.[44] On 14 October 2024, Sudan denied the allegations, saying it would take legal action against the UAE and compel it for a compensation for the crisis it is causing in their country by consistently backing the RSF. Sudanese Foreign Minister Hussein Awad expressed his disappointment over many countries echoing the "UAE’s lie", stating that the Emirati allegations came from frustration over the disclosure of its support to the RSF militia.[45]

In October 2024, the RSF shot down an Ilyushin Il-76 in Sudan’s Malha region, mistaking it for a SAF aircraft that had been routinely bombing them. The aircraft belonged to New Way Cargo of Kyrgyzstan, and was previously identified supplying arms to the RSF from the UAE via Aéroport International Maréchal Idriss Deby in Amdjarass. Documents identified at the crash side included a Russian passport and an ID, belonging to Viktor Granov, who had links with a UAE-based company, Airline Transport Incorporation FZC.[46][47]

On 11 October 2024, Sudan wrote a letter to the UNSC, calling for an urgent action against the UAE’s “continuous aggressive activities”. The letter contained new proof of the UAE providing military, financial, and logistical support to the RSF. It also included images of artillery ammunition boxes, as well as Dubai-based trucks used for transporting arms and ammunition, which were later seized by the SAF. Sudan alleged the UAE of hiring mercenaries to fight for the RSF, and presented evidence indicating that the militia fighters received medical treatment at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi. The letter urged the Security Council to condemn and hold the UAE responsible for its involvement in the conflict, claiming that the Emirati actions are against international law and the UN system.[48]

In November 2024, Chris Van Hollen and Sara Jacobs filed a joint resolution of disapproval aimed at blocking arms sales to the UAE until it stops arming the RSF. The two U.S. lawmakers raised concerns about the government’s decision to approve another weapons sale worth $1.2 billion to the UAE, while it is one of the primary foreign actors involved in intensifying the war in Sudan and warned that these arms could end up in the hands of the RSF.[49]

On 14 November 2024, an investigation by Amnesty International revealed that Nimr (armored personnel carrier), which are produced by the EDGE Group in the UAE and consolidated with the French Galix System, were being used by the RSF in Sudan. Agnès Callamard called it a violation of the UN arms embargo imposed on Sudan, and urged France to ensure that Lacroix Defense and KNDS France, which designed the Galix system, to halt the supply of such systems to the UAE.[50]

Relationship with the Wagner Group

[edit]

According to a report by Al Araby TV, there are allegations of a connection between the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, and Hemetti. Leaked documents and sources reportedly indicate that the Wagner Group has provided training and equipment, including armored vehicles and helicopter gunships, to Hemetti's forces. The Russian company is alleged to have provided security services during Hemetti's visit to Russia in 2018.[51]

Hemetti's association with the Wagner Group may raise questions about his own involvement in human rights violations, particularly given his role in the crackdown on protesters during Sudan's 2019 revolution and as the founder of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group accused of committing human rights abuses in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan.[51] The Sudanese government has denied any connection to the Wagner Group, and the reports suggest that Hemetti may be using his position in the Sovereign Council to establish ties with the Russian company.[52] Both Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had ties to the Putin regime in Russia. According to Business Insider, "The two generals helped Russian President Vladimir Putin exploit Sudan's gold resources to help buttress Russian finances against Western sanctions and fund his war in Ukraine."[53]

International civil wars

[edit]

Libyan Civil War

[edit]

During the 2019 Western Libya offensive phase of the Second Libyan Civil War, in July 2019, about 1,000 RSF soldiers were present in Libya, supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar and based in Tobruk, which was fighting against the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli.[16]

Yemeni Civil War

[edit]

RSF has participated in the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), supporting the pro-Hadi forces. RSF and other Sudanese security forces, participating in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen alongside Saudi and Emirati forces,[54] have killed civilians and destroyed infrastructure, for which they are suspected of war crimes by Human Rights Watch.[55][56][57][58] Saudi Arabia organised and financed this involvement, which brought financial resources to the RSF.[59]

In 2016–2017, RSF had 40,000 members participating in the Yemeni Civil War. In October 2019, 10,000 had returned to Sudan.[17]

Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

[edit]
Main article: Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

On 15 April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF broke out after RSF mobilised in cities across Sudan. Fighting was reported at the presidential palace and army headquarters.[60][61]

The conflict resulted in RSF being designated as a rebel group by the Sudanese Armed Forces. On the day of the clashes, which included the Battle of Khartoum, both sides claimed control over Khartoum and Merowe airports and other sites.[62]

On 17 April 2023, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo held talks, and Dagalo agreed to a 24-hour armistice beginning on 18 April 2023 "to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded".[63]

Another 72-hour nationwide ceasefire was announced to begin at midnight on 24 April 2023. The United States and Saudi Arabia had mediated the truce on humanitarian grounds. The fighting had caused the deaths of more than 500 people by 25 April 2023, and thousands were injured.[64] The Rapid Support Forces were supported by the Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar and the United Arab Emirates.[citation needed] Footage of thermobaric shells captured by the Sudanese military suggested that the weapons were supplied by the United Arab Emirates; Egypt had sent military support to the Sudanese army.[65][66] On 1 July 2024, the RSF took full control of Singa. This surge in violence caused many civilians to flee towards Gedaref in eastern Sudan. On 30 June 2024, the army[which?] also targeted 17th Infantry Division headquarters, General Intelligence Service (GIS) buildings, and the guesthouse[where?]. The RSF's dominance extended over the entire city, including the deserted headquarters of the Sudanese Army’s 65th Brigade. The RSF also secured the Blue Nile Bridge, hinting at a possible expansion towards Al-Dinder.[67]

The RSF has tried to re-employ officials from the pre-war civilian administration. But many civil servants have escaped both to avoid the fighting and having to work with RSF military personnel. This lack of effective RSF administration, alongside the complexity of Sudanese ethnic tensions and alliances shaped by the fighting, have seriously undermined Hemedti’s ambition to transcend his warlord persona.[68]

A report by The Wall Street Journal revealed that mercenaries were becoming a tool for foreign actors like the UAE and Egypt for attaining a strategic advantage in the Sudan war. In November 2024, Colombian fighters were seized from Darfur and were later identified as recruits of an Abu Dhabi-based firm Global Security Services Group (GSSG). The military contractors were hired through a Colombia-registered recruitment firm, International Services Agency (A4SI). They were first taken to the UAE, then to Benghazi in Libya, and were finally deployed to Sudan. The Columbian recruits were “duped” to support the UAE’s efforts in bolstering RSF’s position in the war.[69]

Logo change

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On 18 April 2023, the RSF removed the word "Quds" (Arabic: قدس), an acronym of (Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) ("Rapid Support Forces")—which happens to also be the spelling of Jerusalem—from its official logo.[70] The previous version of the RSF's slogan contained the word "Quds" below the arrow in the middle of the logo, possibly in reference to the city of Jerusalem. The revised version of the logo without the word "Quds"[71] was used in RSF's published statements, while the previous slogan remained on the RSF's Facebook and Twitter social media accounts. Prior to the logo change, the RSF described Hamas as a terrorist movement,[72] and Israel attempted to mediate between RSF and SAF in the current civil war in Sudan.[73]

  • The original logo, with the word "Jerusalem" (Arabic: قدس) in the middle
    The original logo, with the word "Jerusalem" (Arabic: قدس) in the middle
  • The logo used by RSF in its statements, the word "Jerusalem" is absent from its centre
    The logo used by RSF in its statements, the word "Jerusalem" is absent from its centre

Human rights violations

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The RSF, a rebranded name for the notorious Janjaweed militia, has committed or been accused of engaging in several crimes in different parts of Sudan such as Darfur, South Kordofan, and Khartoum, these violations include burning villages,[74] raping women, unlawful detention[75] of activists, and repurposing[76] hospitals and churches as shields. Part of these violations, if verified, could reach ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

Violations in Khartoum Massacre

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Further information: Khartoum massacre

During the dispersing of the peaceful sit-in in Khartoum, the Rapid Support Forces militia raped[77] dozens of women according to the testimonies of the victims.

RSF killed 100 protestors, injured 500, raped women and pillaged homes in the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019 during the 2018–19 Sudanese protests.[22][23][24] During the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Sudan, in June 2019, there were reports that RSF tied bricks of cement to the bodies of dead protestors to make them sink to the bottom of the Nile and never be found.[78][79][80][22] The Central Committee of Medical Doctors stated that more than 100 people had been killed.[81] On 6 June 2019, Kumi Naidoo, the head of Amnesty International, called for the "[immediate withdrawal of] all members of the Rapid Support Forces from policing and law enforcement anywhere in Sudan and especially in Khartoum".[81]

al-Dalij

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The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors reported Janjaweed/RSF shooting dead nine people in the market of the village al-Dalij (or al-Delig) in Central Darfur on 10[82] or 11/12[83] June 2019. The massacre and the burning down of the market were interpreted by locals as a response to civil disobedience.[83]

Violations in Yemen war

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In addition to the killings in Khartoum, other human rights violations during the 2018–19 crisis have been attributed to RSF, including the rape of 70 male and female protesters during the Khartoum massacre and the following days;[84][18] the targeting of peaceful sit-ins;[85] and attacks on hospitals.[85]

In December 2018, a New York Times report exposed[86] that children were recruited by the militia and sent to fight in the frontline in the Yemen war.

Violations during the 2023 Sudan Conflict

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Main article: War crimes during the war in Sudan (2023)
See also: Masalit massacres (2023–present)

During the 2023 Sudan conflict, the militia members have reportedly committed crimes such as looting of houses and evicting their residents,[87] sexual violence,[88] and repurposing[76] churches and hospitals as shields. In a report released on 28 July 2024, Human Rights Watch documented widespread acts of sexual violence, including gang rape and forced marriages, committed by RSF in Khartoum since the onset of the conflict. The 89-page report, titled "Khartoum is Not Safe for Women," highlighted the severe impact on women and girls. Both the RSF and SAF obstructed humanitarian aid, exacerbating the survivors' plight. Despite the clear evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, neither party took meaningful steps to prevent or investigate these abuses. Human Rights Watch called for urgent international intervention to protect civilians, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.[89] The RSF has been trying to rehabilitate its image as a 'killer militia' by disciplining some of its fighters and building civil administrations. Few observers take these efforts seriously as atrocities committed by its fighters are so widely documented.[68]

In July 2023, authorities reported at least 88 cases of sexual assault on women across the country, most of them blamed on the RSF.[90] NGOs estimated that the figure could possibly reach 4,400.[91]

On 12 November 2024, the U.S. sanctioned RSF commander in East Darfur Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla over serious human rights violations, including allegations of harm to civilians in conflict, sexual violence, and ethnically motivated attacks.[92]

Other violations

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According to multiple media reports, the Rapid Support Forces abused[93] immigrants who are crossing Sudan to Europe. A report by Human Rights Watch revealed[94] the militia unlawfully detained dozens of citizens including political activists.

References

[edit]
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