Minister proposes to ban political activities in universities

June 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Higher Education Minister, Sumayia Abu Kosha Tuesday proposed to ban armed political activities in the Sudanese universities .

In last April and May, several universities witnessed protests and clashes between students supporting armed groups in Darfur and the Tow Areas and those who are backing the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

May government officials accused the armed groups of trying to export violence to the Sudanese universities through their sympathisers.

In a speech to the Sudanese legislators at the National Assembly in Khartoum , Abu Kosha accused the armed groups of smuggling cold weapons to the universities campuses to destabilise the security situation.

She said that the ministry of education aims to have Sudanese universities free of violence and to spread culture of peace and tolerance. The minister further demanded “the enactment of laws that criminalize carrying weapons in universities and prohibiting armed political activity that claims lives”.

It is not clear if the minister wants to forbid carrying weapons only or banning the political activities of student groups supporting the armed groups, as it was said by Sudanese officials.

Also, the minister blamed some circles for intervening in the past to prevent the dismissal of students that didn’t respect the university regulation. Seemingly she was alluding to the former rebel groups that signed peace agreements with the government.

She said weapons are brought to the universities by people who are not students, adding the lack of walls in the campuses of several universities due to budget constraints make it easy for the smugglers to bring weapons into the academic institutions

(ST)