Babanusa students: ‘return of banned Darfuris or we quit’

The Darfuri students at the University of Peace in Babanusa in West Kordofan have allegedly threatened to leave the university if its administration does not reverse the decision to ban 30 students from Darfur as a result of their sit-in last September, demanding exemption from tuition fees. Darfuri students at the Babanusa University affirmed to Radio Dabanga their commitment to stand by their banned colleagues, stating that if no solution is found, they will all leave the university and “take the appropriate actions concerning the management of the University”. The students hope that the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and civil society organisations could help with the return of their colleagues. The students pointed out that the banning of their colleagues for a period of two years was not decided by the university administration, but came as a result of pressure from the ruling National Congress Party, students affiliated with the Islamic Movement and the security forces. They consider the banning a political decision against the “sons of Darfur, who have been most prominent and successful in their social and political work”. The Darfur students of the University of Peace have appealed to the management of the University, the DRA, and civil rights and civil society organisations to support them and find a quick solution to the problem of the banned students, so that they can resume their studies as soon as possible. The students added that they feel as if they are foreigners at all Sudanese universities. In September, Darfuri students organised a sit-in in protest against the Babanusa University’s refusal to exempt them from tuition fees. They suffered various injuries when security forces and police stormed the University, using live ammunition, tear gas, and batons to break up the protest.On 30 September the University decided to ban 30 of the protesting students. The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, signed by the Liberation and Justice Movement, led by Tijani Sese and the Government of Sudan in July 2011, provides that Darfuri students are exempt from tuition fees. The agreement however does not define who exactly benefits from the measure. Since then the exemption has been implemented differently by the various Sudanese universities. File photo Related:Babanusa University refuses to accept petitions in favour of banned Darfuri students (3 October 2013)30 Darfuri students banned from Babanusa University (1 October 2013)Darfuri students convicted, fined in Babanusa (23 September 2013)