Investigation uncovers RSF leadership's smuggled wealth

A network linked to the leadership of a militia accused of genocide has amassed a vast property portfolio in Dubai as part of a sprawling ’paramilitary-industrial complex’ across Africa and the Middle East, an investigation has revealed. According to The Guardian, family members, individuals under sanctions and entities linked to the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, have acquired more than 20 luxury properties, worth £17.7m, in the UAE, according to The Sentry, a US investigative group. Sudan’s ruinous war between the RSF and the Sudanese armed forces has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with 33m of the country’s 50m population requiring aid, and at least 19m facing acute hunger. The Sentry’s findings revealed the UAE provides a ‘safe haven’ for the RSF leadership’s family and wealth, much of which is believed to come from gold smuggled out of Sudan. Hemedti seized control of Darfur’s largest goldmine in 2017, with exports enabling him and his family to accumulate significant assets. A network of firms based in the UAE has allowed the RSF leadership to turn smuggled gold into hard currency, with Dubai a major hub for the precious metals. The Gulf state – the RSF’s chief foreign backer – is widely accused of supporting the militia with weapons and mercenaries, something it denies.

Meanwhile the UN on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Algoney Hamdan Musa, Hemedti's younger brother, and three Colombian mercenaries accused of recruiting former ‌Colombian personnel to fight in the country, reports Channel Africa. A statement from Britain’s mission to the UN said the sanctions were imposed by the UN Security Council ​at the proposal of the US, Britain and ​France. Musa, it said, led RSF efforts ​to procure weapons and military equipment. Also sanctioned were Alvaro ​Becerra, Claudia Forero, and Mateo Botero. It said they played a central role in recruiting former Colombian military personnel.

Full Channel Africa report

Full report in The Guardian