Rapid Support Forces facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rapid Support Forces |
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| Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع | |
Emblem
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| Founded | August 2013 |
| Allegiance | Government of Sudan (until 2023) |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Size | 100,000 (2023) |
| Part of | National Intelligence and Security Service and Sudanese Armed Forces (formerly) |
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |
| Commander | Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti") |
| Deputy head | Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | RSF |
| Dates of operation | 2013–present |
| Part of | Sudanese Armed Forces (until 2023) |
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| Opponents | |
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; Arabic: قوات الدعم السريع, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) is a special military group that used to work for the Government of Sudan. The RSF was formed from groups called Janjaweed militias. These groups had previously fought for the Sudanese government. Some of their actions in an area called Darfur were considered very harmful by human rights groups.
The RSF was once managed by the National Intelligence and Security Service. When they were involved in military actions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) were in command. As of June 2019, General Hemedti (Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo) was their leader. During a time of political trouble in Sudan in 2019, a military group that took control used the RSF. They were involved in stopping people who were protesting for democracy. The RSF, along with other security forces, was part of a sad event called the Khartoum massacre in June 2019.
On April 15, 2023, fighting started between the RSF and the SAF. This happened after the RSF moved its forces into cities across Sudan, including Darfur. The SAF now sees the RSF as a rebel group. The RSF claims they have taken control of Khartoum International Airport and other parts of Khartoum.
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How the RSF Started
The RSF began with groups known as the Janjaweed militias. The Sudanese Government used these groups to fight against rebels during the War in Darfur. The RSF was officially created in 2013. This happened after the Janjaweed militias were reorganized. Their new job was to fight rebel groups in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states. This was after rebels attacked North and South Kordofan in April 2013.
Leaders and Members
The RSF is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as "Hemedti." He has been the leader since the group started in 2013 or 2014. As of September 2019, Hemedti's brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, is the second-in-command of the RSF.
In February 2014, a group called Human Rights Watch estimated the RSF had about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers in Darfur. Later, in 2016–2017, about 40,000 RSF members took part in the Yemeni Civil War. By late October 2019, 10,000 of them had returned to Sudan. In July 2019, around 1,000 RSF soldiers were in Libya. They were helping the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar.
According to a news agency called Reuters, the RSF had about 100,000 members in 2023.
What the RSF Does
Controlling Borders
Besides their work in Darfur, the RSF also helps patrol the border with Libya. They gather refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia. This is part of an effort called the Khartoum process. This plan involves countries in Europe and Africa, including Sudan. Its goal is to help manage the movement of people to Europe.
Business Activities
In November 2017, Hemedti used the RSF to take control of gold mines in the Darfur region. This helped him become one of the wealthiest people in Sudan by 2019. Hemedti's brother, Abdul Rahim, who is the deputy head of the RSF, leads a company called Al Junaid. This company is involved in mining and trading gold in Sudan.
In December 2019, an investigation by Global Witness looked into the RSF and Al Junaid. They suggested that the RSF and Al Junaid were closely connected through money. Global Witness said that the RSF and Al Junaid had taken control of a large part of the gold business in Sudan. They believed this was likely used to pay for their operations. The manager of Al Junaid told Thomson Reuters that there were no close links between them.
