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In Focus | Sudan
Burhan and Hemeti keep a tight hold on power in Khartoum

Now in total control, General Burhan and his deputy "Hemeti" form a duo that is holding together the regime currently in charge of Sudan. On paper, they have nothing in common. Burhan is a career soldier, while Hemeti is a militiaman turned politician. Yet, they have now been in power together for over two years. Africa Intelligence has been investigating the workings of a relationship in which the slightest blip could result in Sudan going off the rails. [...]

Published on 17/01/2022 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 7 minutes Antoine Galindo

Generals Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. © Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via AFP

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Politics

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Abdallah Hamdok
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Abdul Rahim Dagalo
Ahmed Amin Abdelatif
Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf
CTC Group
DAL Group
Forces of Freedom and Change
General Intelligence Service
Hemeti
Mighani Idriss
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
National Congress Party
National Intelligence and Security Service
Neffidi
Omar al-Bashir
Osama Daoud Abdellatif
Rapid Support Forces
Sudanese Armed Forces
Transitional Military Council
WikiLeaks

In Focus | Sudan
Fugitive NCP veteran Ali Karti ready to pounce from the shadows

Ali Ahmed Karti, once a devotee of the late Hassan Turabi and the unchallenged leader of Sudan's Islamic political movement, is one of the richest men in Sudan. After four years on the run, he has reappeared in the thick of the war between the regular army and a paramilitary force - and he intends to make the most of the opportunities this presents.

Subscribers only Politics 10.07.2023

From left: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Omar al-Bashir, Ali Karti and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Sudan
Nyala tribal leaders refuse to take sides in Sudanese conflict

A substantial number of community leaders in South Darfur have signed a declaration of neutrality in the hope of avoiding a full-blown civil war. But elsewhere in Sudan, local leaders have opted to side with either the regular army or the RSF.

Subscribers only Defence 26.05.2023

Sudan
Riyadh takes on task of mediating between Hemeti and Burhan

Alert published on 14/4/23, updated on 16/4/23: Up until the last moment, Saudi diplomats tried to patch things up between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his n°2, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as "Hemeti". Despite those efforts, however, the Sudanese strongmen decided to go to war.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 14.04.2023

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Sudan
Qatar poised to mediate talks on return of Darfur fighters from Libya

The next meeting between Darfur fighters in Libya and the Sudanese army is set to take place in Doha in early March.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 01.02.2023

Spotlight | Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan
Burhan-Hemeti feud plays out in CAR to Washington's dismay

The border region straddling Sudan, the Central African Republic and Chad has been the focus of intense manoeuvring in recent weeks. At stake is the control of the Vakaga gold mines and the expansion of the Wagner group, against a backdrop of high-level rivalry in Khartoum.

Free access Defence, Politics 26.01.2023

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Sudan
Mirghani Musa's key role in $6bn Red Sea port project

Former transport minister Musa played a key role in the signing of a preliminary agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports, which is planning a vast port and logistics complex in north-east Sudan.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 05.01.2023

Sudan
Darfur militias remaining in Libya face uncertain return after Juba peace deal falls through

As part of the ceasefire agreement in Libya, which includes the departure of foreign fighters, the last Dafuri contingents still in the country are now having to negotiate their return to Sudan. The success of the process will depend on international backers, which for the moment remain frozen.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.08.2022

Sudan
WFP takes over cash aid programme from Khartoum amidst threat of famine

The iconic Family Support Program being on hold, the World Bank will resume with the help of the World Food Programme a similar scheme, but with a considerably smaller budget. A way for international donors to take the Sudanese military government out of the loop.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.07.2022

Spotlight | Sudan
Hemeti and Burhan prepare to cross swords

The vice-president of the Sudanese sovereignty council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemeti, and President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have been on a round of trips abroad. Each is trying to establish himself as the sole interlocutor for the country's main partners.

Subscribers only Politics 16.03.2022

Top: Hemeti (right) with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Movin on 26 February 2022. Bottom: Burhan (left) with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince MbZ on 10 March 2022.

Spotlight | Horn of Africa
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

With implicit support from the Emirates and with less than two weeks to prepare, the Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki took on the role of mediator between his neighbours. An initiative which could be seen as an act of defiance directed towards international institutions, and not least the UN, which has placed sanctions on Eritrea.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.01.2022

Sudan
Al Burhan's militia allies in Khartoum on edge in Darfur

Since last November, West Sudan has once again become rife with tension. Though the violence never completely subsided after Bashir's fall, it is now feeding off and into political instability in the capital.

Subscribers only Politics 20.01.2022

Sudan
Political opposition tears itself apart over Volker Perthes' proposal

Sudan's opposition coalition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) has opted for a radical solution: to silence the dissenting voices.

Subscribers only Politics 19.01.2022

Sudan
Washington in talks with Sudanese resistance committees

Short of ideas as to how to deal with the coup leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at the start of this month the US State Department opened a dialogue with the resistance committees in Khartoum who are campaigning actively for an end to the military regime.

Subscribers only Politics 14.01.2022

Spotlight | Sudan
Burhan faced with headache of replacing Hamdok

In the hope of not totally alienating itself from the United States and the European Union, the regime of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is striving to find an acceptable replacement for its civilian prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, who quit the administration on 2 January.

Subscribers only Politics 13.01.2022

Sudan
Egos and interference cut short US special envoy Jeffrey Feltman's term

Struggling to make his mark in Sudan and in Ethiopia, diplomat Jeffrey Feltman remained in office for less than a year, during which his term was undermined by disagreements and differences of approach within the US State Department.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.01.2022

US special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman.

Spotlight | Sudan
Hamdok remains poker faced regarding political intentions

Several groups, certain in competition with one another, have formed around the prime minister and are working to establish a framework for government action. However Abdallah Hamdok, who returned to his post at the end of November, remains tight-lipped and has not yet arbitrated between his various advisers.

Subscribers only Politics 20.12.2021

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

Sudan
The five ministers making life difficult for Hamdok

When he ousted the prime minister on 25 October, General al-Burhan chose to keep on board the government members of the rebel groups signatory to the Juba agreement, whose presence is proving troublesome for the prime minister as he picks out a new team.

Subscribers only Politics 14.12.2021

Sudan
Hemeti seeks to defuse eastern tensions

Conscious of the role that unrest in the east of the country played in the downfall of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in late October, the deputy chairman of the sovereignty council, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo aka "Hemeti", last week set up an ad hoc special committee in the hope of finding a rapid solution to the eastern crisis.

Subscribers only Politics 10.12.2021

Sudan
With credibility damaged, Hamdok struggles to form government

Released from house arrest on 21 November, the Sudanese PM Abdalla Hamdok has been asked to form a new government. Yet the task is proving to be very complicated, as by agreeing to return to office alongside General Burhan, he has significantly undermined his political credentials.

Subscribers only Politics 07.12.2021

Inner circles | Sudan
Burhan strengthens his grip on power through new sovereignty council

By setting up a new sovereignty council, whose first members he announced last week, the putschist general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has taken firm control of the country's institutions and rid himself of a civilian component that had become cumbersome.

Subscribers only Politics 19.11.2021

In Focus | Sudan
Sudan leaders move transition goalposts to cling to power

After president Omar al-Bashir was deposed in 2019, a deal was struck to share power between military and civilian leaders for a transitional period leading to elections in December next year. But the ruling Sovereignty Council set up by that deal is stealthily finding ways to postpone the polls, which now will not happen before 2024.

Subscribers only Politics 21.06.2021

Sudan
Turkey seeks to mobilise its Sudanese allies

In a bid to regain influence in Khartoum, Ankara is backing the al-Islah party against the transitional government.

Subscribers only Politics 28.02.2020

Set up email notifications for these topics

Abdallah Hamdok
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Abdul Rahim Dagalo
Ahmed Amin Abdelatif
Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf
CTC Group
DAL Group
Forces of Freedom and Change
General Intelligence Service
Hemeti
Mighani Idriss
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
National Congress Party
National Intelligence and Security Service
Neffidi
Omar al-Bashir
Osama Daoud Abdellatif
Rapid Support Forces
Sudanese Armed Forces
Transitional Military Council
WikiLeaks

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Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

In Focus | Sudan
Burhan and Hemeti keep a tight hold on power in Khartoum

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Set up email notifications for these topics

In Focus | Sudan
Fugitive NCP veteran Ali Karti ready to pounce from the shadows

Sudan
Nyala tribal leaders refuse to take sides in Sudanese conflict

Sudan
Riyadh takes on task of mediating between Hemeti and Burhan

Sudan
Qatar poised to mediate talks on return of Darfur fighters from Libya

Spotlight | Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan
Burhan-Hemeti feud plays out in CAR to Washington's dismay

Sudan
Mirghani Musa's key role in $6bn Red Sea port project

Sudan
Darfur militias remaining in Libya face uncertain return after Juba peace deal falls through

Sudan
WFP takes over cash aid programme from Khartoum amidst threat of famine

Spotlight | Sudan
Hemeti and Burhan prepare to cross swords

Spotlight | Horn of Africa
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

Sudan
Al Burhan's militia allies in Khartoum on edge in Darfur

Sudan
Political opposition tears itself apart over Volker Perthes' proposal

Sudan
Washington in talks with Sudanese resistance committees

Spotlight | Sudan
Burhan faced with headache of replacing Hamdok

Sudan
Egos and interference cut short US special envoy Jeffrey Feltman's term

Spotlight | Sudan
Hamdok remains poker faced regarding political intentions

Sudan
The five ministers making life difficult for Hamdok

Sudan
Hemeti seeks to defuse eastern tensions

Sudan
With credibility damaged, Hamdok struggles to form government

Inner circles | Sudan
Burhan strengthens his grip on power through new sovereignty council

In Focus | Sudan
Sudan leaders move transition goalposts to cling to power

Sudan
Turkey seeks to mobilise its Sudanese allies

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Libya From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

Transition: what's next after the coup?

In Focus | Sudan Burhan and Hemeti keep a tight hold on power in Khartoum

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

In Focus | Sudan Fugitive NCP veteran Ali Karti ready to pounce from the shadows

Sudan Nyala tribal leaders refuse to take sides in Sudanese conflict

Sudan Riyadh takes on task of mediating between Hemeti and Burhan

Sudan Qatar poised to mediate talks on return of Darfur fighters from Libya

Spotlight | Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan Burhan-Hemeti feud plays out in CAR to Washington's dismay

Sudan Mirghani Musa's key role in $6bn Red Sea port project

Sudan Darfur militias remaining in Libya face uncertain return after Juba peace deal falls through

Sudan WFP takes over cash aid programme from Khartoum amidst threat of famine

Spotlight | Sudan Hemeti and Burhan prepare to cross swords

Spotlight | Horn of Africa Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

Sudan Al Burhan's militia allies in Khartoum on edge in Darfur

Sudan Political opposition tears itself apart over Volker Perthes' proposal

Sudan Washington in talks with Sudanese resistance committees

Spotlight | Sudan Burhan faced with headache of replacing Hamdok

Sudan Egos and interference cut short US special envoy Jeffrey Feltman's term

Spotlight | Sudan Hamdok remains poker faced regarding political intentions

Sudan The five ministers making life difficult for Hamdok

Sudan Hemeti seeks to defuse eastern tensions

Sudan With credibility damaged, Hamdok struggles to form government

Inner circles | Sudan Burhan strengthens his grip on power through new sovereignty council

In Focus | Sudan Sudan leaders move transition goalposts to cling to power

Sudan Turkey seeks to mobilise its Sudanese allies

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

In Focus | Sudan
Burhan and Hemeti keep a tight hold on power in Khartoum

In Focus | Sudan
Fugitive NCP veteran Ali Karti ready to pounce from the shadows

Sudan
Nyala tribal leaders refuse to take sides in Sudanese conflict

Sudan
Riyadh takes on task of mediating between Hemeti and Burhan

Sudan
Qatar poised to mediate talks on return of Darfur fighters from Libya

Spotlight | Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan
Burhan-Hemeti feud plays out in CAR to Washington's dismay

Sudan
Mirghani Musa's key role in $6bn Red Sea port project

Sudan
Darfur militias remaining in Libya face uncertain return after Juba peace deal falls through

Sudan
WFP takes over cash aid programme from Khartoum amidst threat of famine

Spotlight | Sudan
Hemeti and Burhan prepare to cross swords

Spotlight | Horn of Africa
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

Sudan
Al Burhan's militia allies in Khartoum on edge in Darfur

Sudan
Political opposition tears itself apart over Volker Perthes' proposal

Sudan
Washington in talks with Sudanese resistance committees

Spotlight | Sudan
Burhan faced with headache of replacing Hamdok

Sudan
Egos and interference cut short US special envoy Jeffrey Feltman's term

Spotlight | Sudan
Hamdok remains poker faced regarding political intentions

Sudan
The five ministers making life difficult for Hamdok

Sudan
Hemeti seeks to defuse eastern tensions

Sudan
With credibility damaged, Hamdok struggles to form government

Inner circles | Sudan
Burhan strengthens his grip on power through new sovereignty council

In Focus | Sudan
Sudan leaders move transition goalposts to cling to power

Sudan
Turkey seeks to mobilise its Sudanese allies