RSF Hemetti’s regional tour continues with stop in Ethiopia

December 28, 2023 (ADDIS ABABA) – Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemette”, Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continued his diplomatic outreach, arriving in Ethiopia on Thursday, marking the second leg of a potential tour of IGAD member states.

His visit follows a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday.

Upon his arrival in Addis Ababa, Hemetti expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from the Ethiopian people. However, he refrained from disclosing the specific objectives of his visit or whether he would engage with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission besides his Ethiopian engagements.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released official photographs depicting Hemetti’s reception by Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, accompanied by a ceremonial guard of honour.

Interestingly, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry referred to Hemetti as the “head of Sudan’s Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF),” a diplomatic choice that highlights the RSF’s complex position within Sudan’s political landscape.

Ugandan President Museveni discreetly met with Hemetti at his private residence outside Kampala, possibly to circumvent any diplomatic repercussions stemming from their interaction, given Sudan’s military government’s designation of the RSF leader as a rebel leader.

Hemetti, accompanied by the head of the RSF negotiating team for the Jeddah process, is expected to present his perspective on resolving Sudan’s ongoing crisis within the framework of IGAD’s mediation efforts.

Following his meeting with President Museveni, Hemetti reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the outcomes of the recent IGAD summit, which encompasses the arrangement of a direct dialogue between the RSF leader and the Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council and Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

(ST)