Nepal appoints former DJ Sudan Gurung as Minister of Home Affairs

Former DJ and a key figure in the Gen Z movement Sudan Gurung has been appointed as Minister of Home Affairs in the 15-member cabinet led by rapper and Prime Minister Balen Shah.

According to The Kathmandu Post, Shah reportedly chose Gurung for his advocacy in holding accountable those responsible for the loss of lives and property during the Gen Z protests.

Gurung, originally from Gorkha, is also the owner of Club OMG, Thamel’s largest nightclub, located in the heart of Kathmandu’s tourist district.

Known for managing events, the now-politician regularly released music on his label Eagle Boy Records, before stepping away from his music career following the 2015 earthquake.

“After the earthquake, DJing and B-boying didn’t appeal to me anymore,” Gurung said in an interview, as reported by The Indian Express.

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Soon after, he founded Hami Nepal, an NGO that supports people in crisis. In September last year, he went on to lead the Gen Z movement, which has reshaped how politics is being addressed in Nepal.

Since taking office on March 27, Gurung has moved quickly, reopening investigation files that had been stalled under previous governments.

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“Investigation files that were stalled during the previous governments are being rapidly reopened, which is positive,” said Hemanta Malla Thakuri, former deputy inspector general (DIG) of Nepal Police.

On the same evening Gurung was appointed, he ordered the arrest of the former prime minister and the former home minister, both of whom are known to be connected to the suppression of the September Gen Z movement.

Due to this series of swift decisions in his first days in office, Gurung has been seen as “among the busiest ministers in the government”.

Daniela Solano is a freelance writer for Mixmag Asia, follow her on Instagram here.

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