Source: Africa Intelligence
KHARTOUM — Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is seeking to strengthen contacts with Israeli circles as he works to expand his political and diplomatic network amid Sudan’s continuing war, Africa Intelligence reported this week.
The report, published on Aug. 28, said senior RSF figures and members of Hemedti’s family have maintained high-level contacts with people in Israel. It said some of the security-related contacts between the two sides predate the war, which began in April 2023.
The report did not provide publicly verifiable evidence of a new formal agreement between Hemedti and the Israeli government, nor did it indicate that Israel has formally endorsed the RSF or agreed to provide it with support.
Hemedti has sought to build relationships with regional and international actors since the war began, as his forces battle Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The conflict erupted after months of tensions between the two military factions and has since drawn in outside powers and competing regional interests.
Sudan and Israel had taken steps toward normalising relations before the war. In 2021, Israeli officials were reported to have held contacts with Hemedti, including discussions related to security and intelligence.
The latest report comes as Sudan’s conflict remains unresolved, with fighting continuing in several parts of the country. The war has displaced millions of people and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, while repeated international efforts to secure a ceasefire and political settlement have failed to produce a lasting agreement.
The RSF has been accused by international organisations and governments of widespread abuses during the conflict. The group has denied allegations of wrongdoing.
The Sudanese Armed Forces, meanwhile, maintains close relations with countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The RSF has been widely accused of receiving support from the United Arab Emirates, allegations Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied.
Any further development in Hemedti’s contacts with Israeli actors could add another layer to the increasingly internationalised Sudanese conflict, particularly given Israel’s strategic interests in the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa.
For now, the reported contacts do not constitute evidence of a formal alliance between Israel and the RSF, and the precise nature of any current discussions remains unclear.
