2023-10-01

EUROPE/SUDAN - This series of investigative reports looks at a private security company belonging to the RSF shadow economy and at its clients – European and Western embassies, aid and developmental organizations.

On April 15, 2023, the power struggle between Sudan’s military (SAF) and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into a full-blown war.

One reason why RSF has become so powerful in the years leading to the current fighting stems from its influential business network tied to the family of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, better known as Hemedti.

Our investigation exposes how several European and Western countries have been complicit in the rise of RSF – by contracting a private security company belonging to Hemedti’s shadow economy to safeguard various embassies as well as the buildings of developmental and aid organizations in Sudan prior to the war and even beyond.

Team members

Mohamed Anwar

Mohamed Anwar is a Berlin-based Egyptian-Sudanese political cartoonist and animator.

Mohamed Anwar

Anna-Theresa Bachmann

Anna-Theresa Bachmann is a Berlin-based freelance reporter covering North Africa, the Middle East and the South Caucasus.

Anna-Theresa Bachmann

Johan Persson

Johan Persson (Sweden) has worked professionally as a freelance photographer and journalist since 2007.

Johan Persson

Anina Ritscher

Anina Ritscher is an investigative journalist and reporter based in Zurich.

Helena Manhartsberger

Anna Roxvall

Anna Roxvall is a Swedish freelance journalist and author with a special focus on Africa and migration.

Anna Roxvall

Maren Saeboe

Maren Sæbø is an award-winning Norwegian freelance journalist.

Maren Saeboe

Giacomo Zandonini

Giacomo Zandonini is a Rome-based freelance journalist.

Giacomo Zandonini

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