Unknown gunmen set fire to university in N. Darfur: report

March 20, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – A number of unknown gunmen set fire to parts of Al-Fasher university in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to a news report.

Osman Abdul-Jabbar, the president of El-Fasher university, condemned to Ashorooq the incident calling it reprehensible and unacceptable. He also ruled the involvement of students in this act.

He said that the perpetrators were seven masked men who attacked and targeted university deanship which he said was planning to implement a number of sports and cultural programs and support the university meal by more than 90,000 Sudanese pounds.

Nonetheless, Abdul-Jabbar said that the university will not be affected by the incident and will push ahead with the implementation of its sports and academic programs.

Parts of North Darfur state has come under attack from rebels recently who managed to take control of several areas. Its, governor Youssef Osman Kibir survived a assignation attempt last week after inspecting the town of Mallit which was briefly captured by Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) fighters.

Furthermore, forces loyal to once pro-government notorious Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal seized five areas in the state following clashes against government troops over the last month.

Earlier this month, the head of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), Tijani El-Sissi warned against the rapidly deteriorating security situation in North and South Darfur states and criticised government for failing to restore security in the region, which has witnessed rebellion since 2003.

Sissi further said that the insecurity in North and South Darfur hampers the implementation of development projects.

“What happens there will not be a catalyst to start in any reconstruction effort in those areas,” he said.

(ST)