Photo source : Abdelrahim Dagalo of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Khartoum , Sudan 25 May 2025 –
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”—stand at the center of Sudan’s ongoing civil war, a devastating conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023. As heads of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), respectively, their rivalry has plunged Sudan into the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.
With nearly 13 million people displaced, widespread famine, and over 30 million requiring humanitarian aid, the conflict has escalated from a power struggle into a multi-dimensional catastrophe encompassing ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and regional destabilization.
The War and Its Toll
The fighting began amid unresolved tensions over the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese military. Clashes quickly spread from Khartoum to the western Darfur region, where the RSF and allied militias have been accused of committing genocide against ethnic groups, including the Masalit. The United States formally determined in January 2025 that genocide had occurred.
The humanitarian fallout is staggering. Famine, confirmed in parts of Darfur by August 2024, has claimed an estimated 522,000 children. The war has left over 8.8 million internally displaced and driven more than 3.5 million people into neighboring countries. By February 2025, at least 61,000 people had died in Khartoum State alone.
U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Sudan Over Use of Chemical Weapons
In a significant escalation of international pressure, the United States announced this week, that it had determined the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024, a violation of international law under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act). This finding was formally presented to Congress, accompanied by an addendum to the April 15
As a result, the U.S. government will impose sanctions on Sudan following a 15-day congressional notification period. These sanctions include sweeping restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and the suspension of access to U.S. government lines of credit.
The measures are expected to take effect upon publication in the Federal Register, anticipated around June 6, 2025. The United States has urged Sudan to immediately cease the use of chemical weapons and fulfill its international obligations, reaffirming its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the proliferation and use of such weapons.
Al-Burhan: The Soldier-Turned-Strongman
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, born in 1960, has been Sudan’s de facto leader since the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Initially seen as a transitional figure, his power grab in the 2021 coup—and his continued reluctance to share power with civilian leadership—has drawn widespread international condemnation.
His administration has been accused of obstructing humanitarian access and targeting civilians. In January 2025, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned al-Burhan for actions that included the targeting of civilian infrastructure and refusal to participate in peace talks.
Hemedti The Paramilitary Warlord , from Janjaweed to RSF: A Legacy of Violence
Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, is one of Sudan’s most powerful and controversial figures. A former Janjaweed warlord turned commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Hemedti has been accused of orchestrating atrocities in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Yemen, while amassing a fortune through Sudan’s gold trade.
Hemedti rose to prominence during the Darfur genocide (2003–present), where he led brutal militias responsible for mass killings, rape, and village burnings. In 2004, he commanded a Rizeigat militia that massacred 126 villagers in Adwa, South Darfur—an attack meticulously planned with Sudanese government forces. Survivors reported executions, mass rape, and bodies dumped in wells to conceal evidence.
In 2013, Sudan’s then-dictator Omar al-Bashir—now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide—formalized these militias into the RSF, appointing Hemedti as its leader. The RSF, accused of being a rebranded Janjaweed force, has since been implicated in war crimes across Sudan and beyond.
“Operation Decisive Summer”: A Campaign of Terror
In 2014–2015, Hemedti’s RSF led “Operation Decisive Summer” in Darfur, systematically burning villages, executing men, and raping women. Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented cases where RSF fighters, under Hemedti’s command, separated men from children before executing them and gang-raped women in multiple villages. A defector from the RSF told HRW that Hemedti and his officers ordered troops to “abuse women.” In one attack, 11 women were raped, and a fighter admitted to killing a woman he attempted to assault.
Beyond Sudan, Hemedti sent thousands of RSF fighters to Yemen as mercenaries backing the Saudi-Emirati coalition. Reports indicate that Sudanese forces committed war crimes, including civilian killings and infrastructure destruction, while Hemedti allegedly pocketed millions from these deals.
Despite his brutal record, Hemedti has cultivated international legitimacy, negotiating with foreign powers and Sudanese pro-democracy groups. Meanwhile, his family controls Sudan’s lucrative gold trade, with mines and smuggling networks reportedly financing his militia. Analysts suggest his wealth and military power make him untouchable, even as survivors demand justice.
From Warlord to Tycoon: The Rise of Hemedti’s Financial Empire
Hemedti’s financial empire has been central to the RSF’s rise and resilience. In 2017, he used the RSF to seize control of lucrative gold mines and arrested rival Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal, cementing his dominance over Sudan’s gold sector.
Through his company, Al-Junaid, managed by his brother Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo and other family members, Hemedti became the country’s most powerful gold trader—at a time when gold accounted for 40 percent of Sudan’s exports. Originally focused on mining, Al-Junaid has since expanded into transport, real estate, car rental, iron and steel, and private security. Much of the mined gold was exported to Dubai, where Hemedti stored his wealth and channeled it into expanding the RSF.
His close ties to the United Arab Emirates facilitated not only financial support but also military logistics and weapons supplies, with the UAE reportedly paying him to deploy RSF troops in Yemen for its proxy war. In parallel, Hemedti’s relationship with Russia’s Wagner Group culminated in gold mining agreements signed during the Ukraine invasion, helping Russia evade sanctions while enriching his paramilitary operations.
According to Western intelligence, Hemedti’s personal fortune includes livestock holdings, real estate, and offshore assets, making him one of Sudan’s wealthiest and most militarily empowered figures—his forces, by 2023, better equipped than Sudan’s regular army.
Weapons in Violation: Amnesty International Uncovers Illicit Arms Transfers
A recent investigation by Amnesty International has revealed that sophisticated Chinese-made weaponry—provided to Sudan’s RSF via the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—has been used in active combat in clear violation of a UN arms embargo.
Amnesty identified Norinco-manufactured GB50A guided bombs and AH-4 howitzers, used in both Khartoum and Darfur. The March 2025 drone strike in North Darfur, allegedly conducted by the RSF, killed at least 13 people and was confirmed through digital forensics to involve a GB50A bomb manufactured in 2024.
“These findings constitute the first documented use of GB50A bombs in any conflict worldwide,” said Brian Castner, Head of Crisis Research at Amnesty International. “This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudan. Civilians are being killed and injured because of global inaction.”
The weapons, originally sold to the UAE, appear to have been re-exported to the RSF, violating international law. Amnesty has called for a halt to all international arms transfers to the UAE until it guarantees an end to such diversions.
Further evidence emerged when Sudanese forces recovered Norinco AH-4 howitzers from RSF positions during their retreat from Khartoum in March 2025. The UAE remains the only known buyer of this artillery system.
Amnesty has urged China, a party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), to cease arms exports to the UAE and review all existing contracts. The investigation has amplified calls for the UN Security Council to extend its arms embargo from Darfur to all of Sudan.
A Conflict Entangled in Global Interests
Sudan’s civil war has evolved into a proxy battlefield, with regional and international actors playing destabilizing roles. The RSF’s ties to the Wagner Group, weapons imports from China and Turkey, and financial backing from the UAE have given it an asymmetric edge. Meanwhile, the SAF retains Egyptian and some Russian support. Both factions have used social media disinformation campaigns to shape public opinion and suppress dissent.
Despite numerous atrocities committed by both factions, accountability remains elusive. The ICC’s mandate is still restricted to Darfur, even as crimes multiply across the country. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International continue to advocate for a broader mandate and an international justice mechanism.
With the war ongoing and ceasefire talks repeatedly collapsing, Sudan remains a battlefield shaped by two ambitious generals and fueled by foreign interests. Until the international community enforces accountability and halts arms flows, the cycle of violence will likely continue—at devastating cost to the Sudanese people.
Photo by Musnany on Unsplash Tuti Island,Khartoum,Sudan
