The Deprogram Episode 209 - Sudan, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Others (Ft. Jude Bela) - Teaser
Nov 24, 2025
Jude Bela, a commentator and regional expert, dives deep into Sudan's tumultuous political landscape. He sheds light on the lasting impact of 30 years of militarized rule, revealing how the RSF emerged from the infamous Janjaweed. Bela explores the rise of Hemeti, detailing his gold empire and ties to Dubai. The conversation uncovers the UAE's strategic involvement, from smuggling weapons to funding agriculture for influence. Intriguingly, he discusses how the UAE utilizes private forces to assert control without direct military intervention.
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Military Rule Endured In Sudan
- Sudan never truly left military rule after Omar al-Bashir; the power structure simply changed uniforms.
- Longstanding use of Islamist ideology, ethnic militias, and divide-and-rule created the conditions for today's collapse.
Janjaweed Became The RSF
- The Janjaweed militias were armed in Darfur in 2003 to crush a rebel uprising and later formalized into the RSF.
- Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti) seized a gold mine and turned the group into the Rapid Support Forces with smuggled-gold revenues.
Gold Fueled A Private Militia Empire
- Hemeti transformed the RSF into a hybrid army-business empire by capturing gold mines and selling smuggled gold via Dubai.
- That wealth funded a private militia of up to 100,000 fighters and mercenary contracts abroad.