University Guards protest police behaviour in Sudan capital

The Association of University Guards has filed a memorandum to the Ministry of Higher Education and the University of Khartoum, in protest against the behaviour of the University Police and the detention of one of its members.

The guardsman was held by the newly created University Police when he protested to the expulsion of a tea seller from the University of Khartoum campus, and the use of obscene words against him, his colleagues, and a number of students.

The guards demand “the separation of competences of the police and the guards”.

A student told Radio Dabanga that they “stand with the University guards” in their condemnation of the conduct of the police in confronting the tea seller, the guards, and the students.

The University Police unit was formed in August this year, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Muzammil Ahmed Mahjoub, following widespread unrest at universities across the country.

At the time, Gen. Mahjoub told the National Assembly in Khartoum that “the new guard will be armed and authorised to shoot students, according to the rules of the use of force, with the guidance on their application so as not to hurt anyone”.

Three days after the re-opening of the Khartoum University -after a four-month-closure- students already complained about repeated attacks by the University Police using electrical cattle prods.