Detained Sudanese students in Egypt face missing national exams
April 5, 2026 (CAIRO) – Sudanese families in Egypt are expressing deep concern as several secondary school students remain in police custody just days before national exams are scheduled to begin on April 13.
The detentions come amid a broad crackdown by Egyptian authorities on foreign nationals, which has affected thousands of Sudanese despite some holding valid residency permits. The situation threatens to prevent these students from sitting for the Sudan School Certificate exams, placing their academic futures at risk.
Amina Abdullah, the mother of a detained student, told Sudan Tribune that her son has been held for several weeks. She said the family is now considering sending him back to Sudan to ensure he does not lose the academic year, despite the ongoing security challenges there.
Another parent, Sarah Mohamed Ahmed, said her son faces an uncertain fate due to irregular migration status. While returning to Sudan to sit for exams is an option, she described it as a “difficult and psychologically taxing” choice given the current circumstances.
The Cultural Attaché at the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo, Asim Ahmed, described the number of detained students as “relatively small.” He told Sudan Tribune that the embassy is working to secure their release or expedite their deportation via air or land to ensure they can reach examination centres.
Ahmed added that alternative arrangements are being made to allow students to take their exams individually or in groups if they are not released in time. He noted that coordination with Egyptian authorities is ongoing to ensure a stable environment for the testing period.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the Sudanese Group for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms and the Darfur Bar Association called on Egypt to accelerate legal procedures for the detainees. The groups proposed issuing temporary identification cards to allow students freedom of movement during the examination season.
The statement also urged the warring parties in Sudan to keep the education sector insulated from political and military conflict.
Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, the national secondary school examinations have faced unprecedented hurdles, including repeated delays, the destruction of schools, and the displacement of millions of students and teachers.