SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Telegraph – From camel-trader to the next ruler of Sudan? Meet ‘Hemedti’, the brutal militia commander aiming to crush a revolution,

8/6/19: Telegraph – From camel-trader to the next ruler of Sudan? Meet ‘Hemedti’, the brutal militia commander aiming to crush a revolution, by Roland Oliphant

 Roland Oliphant’s feature argues that the brutality of Himedti, the “suspected architect and main beneficiary of the [June 3 massacre],” combines “ruthless” mercenary opportunism…and an “uncanny ability to sense where political and military winds are blowing.”

 An anonymous former NISS (Sudanese intelligence service) agent told Oliphant that Himedti’s primary motivation in crushing the Darfur rebellion for Omar Al Bashir’s government was “to get rich, fighting and trading…sides as convenient.” The “fearless” Himedti allegedly swore at NISS interrogators beating him after he raided government convoys.

 He was appointed leader of the Rapid Support Forces (rebranded Janjaweed) in 2013, but Himedti “won the grudging respect of some oppositionists” after turning on his “patron” Al Bashir.

 However, the June 3 massacre is said to reflect his own power ambitions, although Oliphant notes that he will face competition from the Sudanese army, NISS, and “shadow militias” attached to Islamist parties.