RSF officials defect, claiming Hemetti sought control of Sudan’s Coast
October 26, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Five former advisers to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo announced their defection on Saturday, accusing him of attempting to seize control of Sudan’s Red Sea coast and igniting the country’s devastating conflict.
Speaking at a news conference in Port Sudan, the advisers claimed that Daglo, known as Hemetti, had sought to establish a network of ports, military camps, and even a naval force along the strategically vital coastline. This ambition, they said, ultimately led to a rupture with the Sudanese army and the outbreak of hostilities in April.
“We are announcing our separation from the advisory council of the Rapid Support Forces commander,” declared Abdel Qadir Ibrahim Ali Mohamed, who formerly oversaw eastern Sudan affairs for the paramilitary group.
According to Mohamed, the relationship between the army and the RSF fractured after Daglo unveiled plans to construct more than three ports, including one at Abu Amama. The army resisted these plans, along with proposals for 16 military camps and three airports in the Red Sea state.
Mohamed revealed that the RSF had secured $30 billion in foreign funding for the projects, which he described as an attempt by Daglo to establish dominance over the entire Sudanese coastline and deploy 30,000 fighters there. When these ambitions were thwarted, tensions with the army escalated.
“Hemetti informed the RSF committee that he would seize power if the projects were not approved,” Mohamed said, referring to Daglo by his nickname.
The defection of these high-ranking officials represents a significant setback for Daglo, who has struggled to maintain control amid a grinding war that has plunged Sudan into a humanitarian crisis. The advisers, who say their decision followed eight months of internal discussions, anticipate a backlash from the RSF.
They also sought to dispel the notion that the conflict stemmed from the Framework Agreement to restore transitional civilian rule. Instead, they placed the blame squarely on Daglo, accusing him of pursuing personal power and a separate agenda, potentially in concert with foreign actors.
Mohamed further alleged that Daglo orchestrated the sit-in at the presidential palace in October 2021, which toppled the civilian-led government. He claimed that Daglo had insisted on moving the protest from Friendship Hall to the palace, a move opposed by other factions.
“The palace sit-in aimed to eliminate the Forces for Freedom and Change,” Mohamed said, referring to the then-ruling civilian coalition.
A “farce” by the army
An RSF adviser, Elbasha Tbaeq, dismissed the defections as a “farce” orchestrated by a “Port Sudan gang” attempting to deflect blame for military and political failures. He claimed the individuals had no real connection to the RSF and characterized their actions as meaningless.
Tbaeq also accused the defectors of collaborating with the office of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief and Daglo’s rival, and with military intelligence.