Sudanese General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, widely known as “Hemetti,” visited Ethiopia on Thursday, December 28, following his visit to Uganda on Wednesday. As the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in conflict between the Sudanese army and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April, these are his first foreign trips since the start of the conflict, as reported by the Ethiopian government.
These visits come at a time when the East African organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) – of which Uganda and Ethiopia are members – is intensifying efforts to bring both General “Hemetti” and Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the negotiation table.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on social media, “The chief of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, arrives today in Addis Ababa,” accompanied by photos showing him being welcomed upon arrival by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen.
Since the start of the conflict, “Hemetti’s” movements have been shrouded in secrecy, with his exact location rarely disclosed. His visit to Uganda marks his first official foreign trip as the head of the Rapid Support Forces. On Wednesday, January 27, he met with President Yoweri Museveni at his residence in Rwakitura, in the southwest of the country.