Rapid Support Forces

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Rapid Support Forces
Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع
Seal
FoundedAugust 2013
AllegianceGovernment of Sudan (until 2023)
TypeParamilitary
Size100,000 (2023)[1]
Part ofNational Intelligence and Security Service and Sudanese Armed Forces (formerly)
Commanders
RSF CommanderMohamed Hamdan Dagalo
Arabic: محمد حمدان دقلو ("Hemetti")[2]
RSF deputy headAbdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo[3]
Insignia
AbbreviationRSF
Dates of operation2013–
Part ofSudanese Armed Forces (until 2023)
Allies
Opponents

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) are paramilitary forces formerly operated by the Government of Sudan. It grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, and was responsible for atrocities against civilians.[11][12] Its actions in Darfur qualify as crimes against humanity according to Human Rights Watch.[8]

It is administered by the National Intelligence and Security Service, while during military operations is commanded by the Sudanese Armed Forces.[13] As of June 2019, the commander of the RSF is General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemetti").[2] During the Sudanese political crisis of 2019, the military junta who took control of the country employed the RSF to violently crack down on pro-democracy demonstrators.[2] Along with other security forces, the RSF carried out the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019.[14][15][16]

On 15 April 2023, fighting broke out between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces after the RSF mobilized its forces in cities across Sudan, including in Darfur.[17] The SAF have designated the RSF a rebel group. RSF forces claim to have occupied Khartoum International Airport and other areas in Khartoum.[18]

Origin

The 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. The 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.[3]

Leadership and numbers

The RSF is headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemetti"), who has been its leader since it was created in 2013 or 2014.[19][2] As of September 2019, Hemetti's brother Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo is deputy head of the RSF.[3]

RSF was estimated by Human Rights Watch as having about 5,000–6,000 soldiers in February 2014 in Darfur.[8] In 2016–2017, the RSF had 40,000 members participating in the Yemeni Civil War. In late October 2019, 10,000 had returned to Sudan.[10] In July 2019, about 1,000 RSF soldiers were present in Libya, supporting the Libyan National Army commanded by Khalifa Haftar.[9]

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

Role

Migration control

In addition to its role in Darfur, the RSF are 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.[20]

Business interests

In November 2017, Hemetti used the 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.[21] Hemetti's brother Abdul Rahim, deputy head of the RSF, heads the Al Junaid (or Al Gunade) corporation involved in gold mining and trading in Sudan.[22]

In December 2019, a Global Witness investigation into the RSF and Al Junaid argued that the 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.[22]

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.[22]

In April 2023, Al Jazeera reported that the RSF had sought out Western public relations firms to burnish its image, including by editing Wikipedia pages.[23]

War in Darfur

See also: International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur

During the War in Darfur, in 2014 and 2015, the RSF "repeatedly attacked villages, burned and looted homes, beating, raping and executing villagers," aided by air and ground support from the Sudanese Armed Forces.[8] The 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.[8]

Relationship with the United Arab Emirates

The gold mined in Sudan was sent to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo kept much of his money, which he used to fund his paramilitaries.[5][24][25] In 2019, Global Witness reported that UAE was a key supplier of military equipment to RSF.[22] 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.[5][26]

Relationship with the Wagner Group

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.[27]

The Wagner Group has a track record of involvement in conflicts and human rights abuses in parts of the world, including Syria, Libya, and the Central African Republic.[28] Hemetti's association with the 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.[27]

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.[28] 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."[29]

International civil wars

Libyan Civil War

During the 2019 Western Libya offensive phase of the Second Libyan Civil War, in July 2019, about 1000 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.[9]

Yemeni Civil War

RSF has participated in the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), supporting the pro-Hadi forces. Both the RSF and other Sudanese security forces, participating in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen alongside Saudi and Emirati forces,[30] have killed civilians and destroyed infrastructure, for which they are suspected of war crimes by Human Rights Watch.[31][32][33][34] Saudi Arabia organised and financed this involvement, which brought financial resources to the RSF.[35]

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

2018–19 Sudanese protests and human rights abuses

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.[14][15][16] During the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Sudan, in June 2019, there were reports that the 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.[36][37][38][14] The Central Committee of Medical Doctors stated that more than 100 people had been killed.[39] 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".[39]

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;[40][11] the targeting of peaceful sit-ins;[41] and attacks on hospitals.[41]

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[42] or 11/12[43] June 2019. The massacre and the burning down of the market were interpreted by locals as a response to civil disobedience.[43]

2023 Sudan conflict

Main article: 2023 Sudan conflict

On 15 April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF broke out after the RSF mobilised in cities across Sudan. Fighting was reported at the presidential palace and army headquarters.[44][45]

The conflict resulted in the 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.[46]

On 17 April 2023, the US Secretary General, Antony Blinken and the RSF leader gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, had talks, after which gen Dagalo agreed to a 24-hour armistice from 18 April 2023 “to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded,”.[47] Another 72-hour nationwide cease-fire had been announced from midnight, 24 April 2023. The United States and Saudi Arabia had mediated the truce on humanitarian grounds. The fight had caused death of more than 500 people till 25 April 2023 and thousands were injured.[48] The foreign nations interfered in the conflict by providing military support to the warring parties. Rapid Support Forces supported by the Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar and the United Arab Emirates. The footage of thermobaric shells captured by the Sudanese military suggest that the thermobaric weapon was supplied by UAE to RSF. While the Egypt had sent military support to the Sudanese army.[49][50]

References

  1. ^ a b "Factbox: Who are Sudan's Rapid Support Forces?". Reuters. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023. Analysts estimate the force numbers about 100,000, with bases and deployments across the country.
  2. ^ a b c d "Who are Sudan's RSF and their commander Hemeti?". Al Jazeera English. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Sudan: Former President al-Bashir denied bail in corruption trial". Al Jazeera English. 7 September 2019. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b Elbagir, Nima; Mezzofiore, Gianluca; Qiblawi, Tamara (20 April 2023). "Exclusive: Evidence emerges of Russia's Wagner arming militia leader battling Sudan's army". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023. The Russian mercenary group Wagner has been supplying Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with missiles to aid their fight against the country's army, Sudanese and regional diplomatic sources have told CNN. The sources said the surface-to-air missiles have significantly buttressed RSF paramilitary fighters and their leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
  5. ^ a b c "As war rages in Sudan, countries angle for advantage". Japan Times. 23 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Wagner in Sudan: What have Russian mercenaries been up to?". BBC News. 24 April 2023. Its founder, Yevgeny Prighozin - who has close links to President Vladimir Putin - has said that "not a single Wagner PMC [private military company] fighter has been present in Sudan" for over two years. We've found no evidence that Russian mercenaries are currently inside the country. But there is evidence of Wagner's previous activities in Sudan...
  7. ^ "Sudan's army chief says Haftar denies supporting RSF; no confirmation on Wagner Group's involvement". Al-Ahram. 22 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Loeb, Jonathan (9 September 2015). ""Men With No Mercy" – Rapid Support Forces Attacks against Civilians in Darfur, Sudan". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "1,000 Sudanese militiamen arrive in Libya". Radio Dabanga. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "Sudan withdraws 10,000 troops from Yemen". Sudan Tribune. 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  11. ^ a b Ismail, Nermin (6 September 2019). "Sudan eyewitness: Militiamen raped men, women". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. ^ Burke, Jason; Salih, Zeinab Mohammed (9 June 2019). "Millions join general strike in Sudan aimed at dislodging army". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  13. ^ "RSF to Uproot Rebels". Sudan Vision Daily, 19 May 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "Sudan crisis: Death toll from crackdown rises to 60, opposition says". BBC News. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  15. ^ a b Lynch, Justin (5 June 2019). "Remember The Darfur Genocide? With Saudi Help, One of the Killer Commanders There Is Taking Over Sudan". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  16. ^ a b Albaih, Khalid (7 June 2019). "No, it's not over for the Sudanese revolution". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  17. ^ Mackay, Hamish (15 April 2023). "Fighter jets seen above Khartoum amid gunfire in Sudan's capital – live". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Sudan crisis: Air strikes launched against paramilitaries as clashes escalate". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  19. ^ Tekle, Tesfa-Alem (11 June 2014). "Calls for probe into Iran toxic waste dumped in Eritrea". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  20. ^ "British domestic politics clash with human rights in the Horn of Africa". The Economist. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  21. ^ de Waal, Alex (20 July 2019). "Sudan crisis: The ruthless mercenaries who run the country for gold". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  22. ^ a b c d "Exposing the RSF's secret financial network". Global Witness. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  23. ^ "The soft-power campaign of Sudan’s RSF leader ‘Hemedti’" Al Jazeera, 20 April 2023 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/20/the-soft-power-campaign-of-sudans-rsf-leader-hemedti
  24. ^ "Exclusive: Sudan militia leader grew rich by selling gold". Reuters. 26 November 2019.
  25. ^ Smith, Patrick (13 January 2021). "Sudan: Hemeti and the $16bn annual gold exports to the UAE". The Africa Report.
  26. ^ "Sheikh Mohamed meets deputy chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council". The National. 9 February 2022.
  27. ^ a b "ذراع الكرملين و"ذهب السودان الضائع".. ما علاقة مجموعة فاغنر بحميدتي؟". التلفزيون العربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Russia, Wagner Group expand ties with Sudan – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  29. ^ "The two generals fighting in Sudan helped Putin plunder the country's gold to fund Russia's war in Ukraine". Business Insider. 15 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Sudan unrest: What are the Rapid Support Forces?". Al Jazeera. 16 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Yemen: Events of 2018". World Report 2019: Rights Trends in Yemen. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  32. ^ el-Baghdadi, Iyad (11 June 2019). "Opinion | The Princes Who Want to Destroy Any Hope for Arab Democracy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  33. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Sudan's Controversial Rapid Support Forces Bolster Saudi Efforts in Yemen". Refworld. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  34. ^ Halliday, Josh; Asthana, Anushka (2 April 2017). "Met police look at allegations of Saudi war crimes in Yemen". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  35. ^ Alex De Waal (17 April 2023). "Sudan conflict: Hemedti – the warlord who built a paramilitary force more powerful than the state". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  36. ^ Linge, Thomas van (5 June 2019). "#Sudan : the footage shows how bricks of cement were tied to the bodies in order to make them sink to the bodum of the #Nile so they could never be found. #SudanUprising". @ThomasVLinge. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  37. ^ Elbagir, Yousra (4 June 2019). "He says, "some people were beaten to death and thrown in the Nile, some shot multiple times and thrown in the Nile and others were hacked with machetes and thrown in the Nile. It was a massacre."". @YousraElbagir. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  38. ^ Obai (5 June 2019). "pic.twitter.com/73PBXXe7xQ". @grdoon. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Sudan: Remove Rapid Support Forces from Khartoum streets immediately". Amnesty International. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  40. ^ Salih, Zeinab Mohammed; Burke, Jason (11 June 2019). "Sudanese doctors say dozens of people raped during sit-in attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  41. ^ a b "Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Are Targeting Hospitals, Peaceful Sit-In; Dozens of Civilians Reported Killed". PHR. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Sudan army, protesters to resume talks on transitional council". Al Jazeera English. 12 June 2019. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  43. ^ a b "مليشيا الدعم السريع تركب مجزرة في "دليج" وتحرق السوق وتنهب ممتلكات المواطنين". al-Hamish Voice. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  44. ^ Abdelaziz, Khalid; Eltahir, Nafisa; Eltahir, Nafisa (15 April 2023). "Sudan clashes kill at least 25 in power struggle between army, paramilitaries". Reuters. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  45. ^ "'People are terrified': Heavy fighting erupts in Sudan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  46. ^ "Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, leaving 56 civilians dead". BBC News. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  47. ^ "Day-long ceasefire agreed in Sudan after intense international mediation". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Sudan conflict: UK begins evacuation of British nationals amid cease-fire". Politico. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  49. ^ "Libyan Militia and Egypt's Military Back Opposite Sides in Sudan Conflict". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  50. ^ "The UAE sold arms to both warring parties in Sudan". Military Africa. Retrieved 22 April 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rapid_Support_Forces&oldid=1152686740"