Governor says rebels behind troubles at Darfur University

ALFASHIR, North Darfur, Apr 27, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The governor of Northern Darfur State, Osman Yusuf Kibir, has held both Darfur’s Sudan’s Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) responsible for the recent skirmishes at Al-Fashir University.

Villagers cheer Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) rebels at Deribat, in the mountains of South Darfur, western Sudan November 16, 2004. (Reuters).

According to SUNA, Kibir indicated that these events came within the framework of strategic objectives to undermine the constitutional government of the country.

The governor, who was speaking at a party held at the State Secretariat this morning to mark the distribution of new equipment to the local authorities, said his government would not allow any one to sabotage ordinary university life.

University is a strategic educational institution which should never be undermined by allowing it to be the scene of struggles.

He said the government has taken control over the university in order to provide stability for the students so that they can complete their studies peacefully, he added.

He also said that the university would never be closed so that the rebel movements could never achieve their objectives.

The governor revealed that only five per cent of the students were involved in the incidents at the university, and 95 per cent shunned them as they were only interested in their studies.

Finally, he affirmed that anyone found to be involved in these incidents would face just trial.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.