Khartoum students oppose faculty relocation ‘for tourist attractions’

Students of the Khartoum University took to the streets in protest against plans to move faculties to outside the city, reportedly to make way for tourist attractions. Dozens were injured as police confronted the mass with teargas and bullets.

Student Hussein Harran, the head of the Darfur Students Association at the university, said that they discovered about the relocation of faculties on social media last Wednesday. A student speech against the move followed the next day.

“We gave the university administration a period of time to comment on the news. On Sunday however, the Minister of Tourism announced the relocation of the centre faculties and transforming the buildings into tourist attractions.”

The Ministry of Higher Education has not denied the announcement, Harran told Radio Dabanga. The news sparked students to hold a speech on Monday to explain their opposition to the decision.

Harran reported that policemen intervened with teargas and bullets, injuring a number of demonstrators.

Students also expressed their views on the referendum that is being held in Darfur. “On Sunday, Darfuri students held a separate speech in the university, sharing their rejection of the referendum.”

Photos and video below: Students who took to the streets to protest the relocation plans are suffering from the teargas used against them in the campus, and at the entrance of the University of Khartoum. Photos taken by students show a number of protesters throwing rocks at the police forces. (RD)