How a Sudanese paramilitary group evolved from government-backed militias into a national power broker

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Rapid Support Forces began as a collection of nomadic militias in Darfur, eventually becoming a formidable paramilitary organization. By leveraging gold mining, foreign military contracts, and shifting political alliances, this group transformed from a state-sponsored security tool into an independent force now locked in a devastating civil war.

The origins of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) trace back to the early 1980s, when the Sudanese government and Libya armed nomadic groups from eastern Chad and Darfur to serve as auxiliary troops. These fighters, later known as the Janjaweed, were mobilized by Sudanese military intelligence in 2003 to suppress rebel uprisings. Despite international pressure to disarm them, the Janjaweed remained active, and in 2013, President Omar al-Bashir formalized their role by establishing the RSF under the command of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

Initially, the RSF functioned as a praetorian guard for Bashir, insulating his regime from internal threats. However, the group’s influence expanded significantly through economic and military ventures. Hemedti’s family-run holding company, Al Junaid, oversaw gold mining and export operations, providing a steady revenue stream. Simultaneously, the RSF deployed troops to support Saudi and Emirati allies in Yemen’s civil war and later backed the Libyan National Army. These international engagements not only generated income but also solidified the RSF’s status as a powerful, autonomous entity.

The relationship between the RSF and the state fractured following the 2019 coup that ousted Bashir and the subsequent 2021 military takeover. As the country moved toward a transition to civilian rule, tensions escalated between Hemedti and Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). By April 2023, this rivalry erupted into a full-scale civil war. Today, the RSF has grown from a force of roughly 5,000 to 6,000 troops in 2014 to a massive organization, with Hemedti claiming a census of 450,000 soldiers by May 2026. The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread displacement and allegations of war crimes.

The RSF’s trajectory illustrates the dangers of relying on irregular militias to maintain state security. What began as a counterinsurgency tactic in Darfur evolved into a parallel power structure that eventually challenged the military it was meant to support. The group’s reliance on mercenary work, gold wealth, and regional patronage has made it a central, if controversial, player in Sudan’s ongoing instability.

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