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I interviewed General Mohamed Hamdan, known as Hemeti, whose fighters led the brutal assault on protesters in Khartoum on June 3. Story: nyti.ms/2KhC9eN
We met at army headquarters, at his sprawling office overlooking the protest site where the Rapid Support forces are accused of rape, pillage and dozens of killings. Hemeti was composed, articulate and unapologetic.
He deflected questions about the atrocities – doctors say 118 died - citing the need to respect an official investigation. “I’m not escaping the questions,” he insisted.
Then he made lurid accusations against the protesters, accusing them of licentious, provocative behavior.
Then he made lurid accusations against the protesters, accusing them of licentious, provocative behavior.
I heard similar accounts, in greater detail, at an RSF office. One officer - the force's 'human rights' general - denounced fake news about Hemeti. Next door was the "Child Protection Unit", striking given the RSF also accused of using child soldiers. 
Another officer produced seized contraband to show the protesters as drunk or dangerous. Then he wheeled out five prisoners. Surreal.
(Two of the guns are fakes, one is real).
(Two of the guns are fakes, one is real).
Hemeti wants to whitewash his image. But hard to see how this propaganda can succeed, given the voluminous evidence of atrocities by his men — videos, witness testimony, etc. And it may backfire, by further angering the protest leaders the military is negotiating with.
The international community is shunning Hemeti — U.S. envoy Donald Booth pointedly did not meet him on Thursday.
Hemeti is sticking to strongman bluster. “The country needs the RSF, not the other way around,” he said. But can he endure?
Hemeti is sticking to strongman bluster. “The country needs the RSF, not the other way around,” he said. But can he endure?
