Der blutrünstige Kriegsherr übernimmt die Kontrolle über einen Staat – und wie Großbritannien auf ihn reagieren wird

As civil war rages in Sudan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group continues its advance, countries around the world, including the UK, are desperately trying to work out how to respond.

The RSF recently seized control of the key city of El-Fasher from Sudanese Government forces, allegedly [committing a wave of atrocities](https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166237) from mass sexual violence to a massacre at a maternity hospital.

The group is one of two warring groups in Sudan’s bloody civil war, which has triggered the largest displacement crisis in the world this year and [killed tens of thousands](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crln9lk51dro). Earlier this week, the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres, said the war was spiralling out of control.

RSF’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, also known as “Hemedti”, is a notorious warlord, but one the UK may have to deal with should his group continue to advance.

The UK is already facing criticism after [British military equipment was found on Sudan’s battlefields](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/oct/28/uk-military-equipment-rapid-support-forces-rsf-militia-accused-genocide-found-sudan-united-nations), according to reports by the Sudanese army.

# UK under pressure over ties to RSF’s alleged backers

The RSF has acquired high-tech weapons, including sophisticated drones, which were used in the attack on El-Fasher.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a UK ally – has [been accused of arming the group](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/apr/14/leaked-un-experts-report-raises-fresh-concerns-over-uaes-role-in-sudan-war). Sudan’s government brought a [case against the UAE to the International Court of Justice earlier this year](https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162066), accusing it of being complicit in the war and its many atrocities.

The UAE has repeatedly denied involvement in RSF activity, saying it is committed to bringing “lasting peace” to Sudan and criticising the legal case as a publicity stunt and “platform to launch false attacks”.

The UK has been urged to suspend arms sales to the UAE, but the Foreign Office says it has one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world and that all exports were “assessed for the risk of diversion to an undesirable end user or end use”.

*The i Paper* previously revealed that a Dubai-based firm had helped [produce RSF propaganda, which was sent to British MPs.](https://inews.co.uk/news/ethical-private-equity-firm-dubai-sudan-militia-lobby-uk-mps-2319805?srsltid=AfmBOoq4TQ253FZHy5494yFlDGvHkaUey_VVedRzIvLNLqWvoSAwTEvW&ico=in-line_link)