You wouldn’t think an impending massacre in Sudan would be something you can joke about, but that’s pretty much the standard for Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act by now – its ability to make unpalatable subjects entertaining, not by trivialising or making fun of people in difficult circumstances, but by doing the opposite. I’ll give you an example:
And that doesn’t take away from the gravity of the situation in Sudan right now. Having felt brief euphoria when the country’s strongman for three decades, Omar al-Bashir, was overthrown in a military coup, the Sudanese people now realise they are fighting a junta that refuses to hold elections and opens fire on peaceful pro-democracy protesters.
After a brief riff on the history of Bashir’s time in power...
Minhaj got to the meat of the issue, that mirrors what is happening in so many countries around the world as we speak: Majoritarianism.
But he pointed out what was interesting about the Sudanese uprising against Bashir – the fact that the Arab majority joined the various oppressed minority ethnic groups and led to his ouster.
Capitalising on the pro-democracy protests, the military overthrew Bashir – only, it has since refused to hold elections, and cracked down hard on the peaceful pro-democracy protesters who once again hit the streets.
Highlighting the central role women played in the pro-democracy protests, Minhaj interviewed a Sudanese national living in New York, who had some awesome tips to share about dealing with tear gas:
I’m sure that’s a tip the Hong Kong protesters could use right now too.
As always, Minhaj covers the topic’s geopolitical significance in a way that isn’t usually seen. So here’s Sudan’s strategic importance:
- Transitional Military Council Vice President ‘Hemedti’ (a holdover from Bashir and allegedly involved in the Darfur genocide) has reportedly sent thousands of Sudanese child soldiers to help Saudi Arabia out in its Yemen War. In return, Saudi Arabia has pledged huge amounts of aid directly to the Council.
- America might have washed its hands off Sudan, but the EU hasn’t – the EU reportedly gives Sudan more aid money in return for the Military Council making sure no Sudanese immigrants flee towards Europe, through the Khartoum Process.
Despite all this though, the episode ends with an uplifting quote from Marine Alneel:
Also Read: General Strike Launched in Sudan After Security Crackdown