Sudan paramilitary leaders acquired £17.7m property portfolio in Dubai, investigation reveals

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. Family members, sanctioned individuals, 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 United Arab Emirates (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 33 million of the country’s 50 million population requiring aid, and at least 19 million 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. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (centre, waving a baton), known as Hemedti, the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/ 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 metal, which is trading at near record highs . …