Hemetti says RSF forces tripled to 450,000, vows to fight for decades
May 6, 2026 (KHARTOUM) — Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, reaffirmed his commitment to military operations against the Sudanese army on Wednesday, blaming military leadership for the continued conflict and the failure of peace efforts.
Speaking to RSF officers in an undisclosed, secure location, Hemetti claimed his forces have consistently sought to end the violence but questioned if a unilateral ceasefire was possible. “By God, we in the RSF do not want this to continue; we want to stop the war today before tomorrow,” he said. “But can a war stop from one side only?”
The RSF leader suggested that the army leadership misinterprets his willingness to negotiate as a sign of exhaustion. He added that agreeing to talks was not a sign of weakness but reflected a belief that there is no benefit in continued fighting.
Hemetti said his force has grown significantly since the conflict began in April 2023. “The war started when we had 143,000 disciplined, salaried soldiers,” he stated. “Today, our census stands at 450,000.”
He argued this expansion reflects popular support, contrasting it with what he described as the collapse of the regular army and its alleged reliance on “mercenaries” and “Muslim Brotherhood battalions.”
Indicating a readiness for a protracted conflict, Hemetti said his forces could fight for decades if peace is not achieved. “It is unknown how long this war will last. They have mentioned 33 years; we tell them keep going for 40, we have no problem,” he said.
He launched a sharp verbal attack on the current military leadership, labelling them a front for “ISIS” and “the Muslim Brotherhood”, whom he accused of betraying his forces at the start of the war.
Accusing the army of targeting civilians and infrastructure, the RSF commander claimed his forces have the capacity to decide the battle militarily but are restrained by ethics. He stated that while his forces could push the army to Port Sudan, they remained committed to protecting non-combatants.
Hemetti emphasized that his ultimate goal remains the establishment of a “Sudanese army that is not an Islamic Movement army or a partisan army.”
He promised his officers improved administrative conditions and better services in RSF-controlled areas, stating that work is underway to form a government focused on development, health, and education. He also pledged to prioritize the care of wounded soldiers and the education of the children of those killed in the conflict.