Sudan: X-linked accounts of General Hemedti, other paramilitary officials suspended

The X account of General Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti, one of the key figures in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, was suspended last week for violating platform rules, according to X, the social media company owned by Elon Musk. Hemedti leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the conflict with the Sudanese army for over a year and a half. Visitors to Hemedti’s X account are now greeted with a message stating the account was “suspended” due to rule violations in a move that echoes earlier shut downs by Facebook and YouTube earlier.

In total, four accounts tied to senior leaders of the RSF were suspended last Friday, including those belonging to Hemedti himself, the RSF spokesperson, and two other military commanders.

Sudanese activist Mohamed Suliman, who advocates for greater accountability on digital platforms, pointed out that these accounts were removed for promoting violence and hate. Last year, after pressure from Suliman, Facebook also deleted the RSF’s official page, accusing the group of spreading misinformation.

Suliman views the social media suspensions as a victory, noting that the paramilitary forces heavily rely on these platforms for internal communication, recruitment, and propaganda. On a daily basis, they post dozens of messages in both Arabic and English.