Sudanese protesters who overthrew their country’s former regime under Omar al-Bashir were surprised when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) pointed their guns away from them a few days after the December 19 revolution erupted in 2018.
The RSF was initially established by Bashir himself for protection, but it sided with the massive protests against the regime.
When the security taskforce was first summoned to Khartoum, demonstrators were afraid that the RSF was seeking to quell their protests by force. But they were soon taken aback by the RSF actually offering them protection.
Speaking from the capital’s southern suburbs on December 25, 2018, RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who also goes by Hemetti, reassured anti-regime revolutionaries that his forces were not in Khartoum to kill them.
“The RSF did not come to kill or participate in the suppression of protesters,” said Hemetti in a definitive statement that some considered as one of the earliest serious acts in opposition to Bashir’s leadership.
After successfully toppling Bashir’s regime, demonstrators were chanting in support of the RSF. The support, however, was short-lived.
Protesters were enraged by the RSF possibly partaking in disbanding a sit-in on June 3, 2019. RSF officers and commanders repeatedly denied the accusations and blamed anti-revolution forces.
Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the RSF and Hemetti’s brother, recounted the early days of the revolution in Sudan and how he was forced to cut short a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Hemetti’s decision to publicly back protesters against Bashir.
According to Dagalo, his brother’s outspoken support for anti-regime moves had placed his life at risk.
“When I inquired about what he had done, he told me that he will not stand by criminals and that he was prepared for the consequences,” Dagalo told Asharq Al-Awsat.
As the revolution gained traction, it triggered a violent response from Bashir’s regime. The repression and killing of protesters surged across the country’s streets and neighborhoods.
“A storm was brewing among army ranks, and it was aggravated by Bashir’s speech on February 22, 2019,” Dagalo noted.
In his speech, Bashir declared a national emergency for one year and dissolved local and national governments. He also vowed to rule impartially and introduce radical economic measures.
Despite his pledges, Bashir failed to regain the confidence of the opposition.
Following Bashir’s speech, Dagalo and Hemetti headed to visit the defense ministry, where Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, then serving as defense minister, reprimanded Hemetti for backing the protests.
“I spoke the truth,” Hemetti told Auf, according to Dagalo. Auf responded by warning Hemetti not to do it again.
Hemetti, during the meeting with Auf, described what was happening as “oppression and treason to the people.”
“This is not how we move the country forward,” Hemetti told Auf, warning that Sudan can slip away from everyone’s hand.
Auf went on to agree with Hemetti’s views on blaming government policies for what was happening in the country and proposed forming a higher security committee.
A committee of high-ranking officers and commanders, which included Hemetti, was formed. An executive branch for the committee was also established with the task of breaking up protests.
“During the committee’s first meeting, attendees were enthusiastic about getting the RSF to help with coercing the revolution and protesters,” Dagalo noted, adding that he strongly rejected the notion.
“We will not partake in oppressing revolutionaries,” he told deputy head of security Jalal al-Sheikh at the meeting.
Hemetti reaffirmed that the RSF will not chase down protesters but agreed to Auf’s request on providing an RSF patrol to support security efforts.
He, however, later withdrew the patrol shortly before a wave of organized protests erupted. Hemetti was keen on RSF personnel not clashing with protesters.
