Condemnation as universities in Darfur come under attack

Sudan’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has condemned the drone strikes on Kordofan University in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, and the targeting of academic institutions in the Darfur region, holding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) responsible.

In a statement, the ministry said the attack on the University of Kordofan campus caused the destruction of some of its largest venues, namely the Halls of Kordovan and Ghoush.

“The incident is part of a systematic pattern of RSF-led attacks on higher education institutions across Sudan, aimed at undermining the stability of local universities.

“Higher education and scientific research institutions have been subjected to systematic destruction by rebel Rapid Support militias, destroying all governmental and private higher education institutions, especially in Khartoum State and several other states, resulting in severe damage to buildings, facilities and infrastructure.

“The attack on higher education institutions and scientific research is not just the vandalism of buildings and facilities, it is a direct assault on science, knowledge and the students’ right to pursue safe and stable education,” the ministry said.

Escalating attacks

The Emergency Lawyers Association, a local rights group, condemned the strike and held the RSF responsible, describing it as part of an escalating pattern of attacks on civilian sites.

Targeting educational institutions constitutes “a violation of international humanitarian law”, the group said, stressing that assaults on universities undermine the right to education and threaten students’ futures.

Also, a UN report confirmed that “a drone strike hit the campus of the University of Kordofan in El Obeid, causing significant structural damage”. There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the report.

Attacks on Darfur’s universities

Dr Mahmoud Dugdug, a legal consultant and former lecturer at the Institute of Legal Studies in Qatar, told University World News: “The destruction of the University of Al-Fasher and the attack on Kordofan University are particularly devastating, leaving the entire region without access to higher education.

“This has resulted in the displacement and killing of students, casting a gloomy shadow over the area,” said Dugdug, who is one of the Darfuri academics who earlier issued an appeal for humanitarian help in Darfur.

“Other universities in Sudan’s Darfur region, which is about the size of France, have been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF,” he said.

The war, which began in April 2023 and has killed and displaced thousands, has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and the largest and fastest displacement crisis.

Said Dugdug: “Universities in Al-Fasher, Nyala, Zalingei, and El Geneina have been looted, occupied, and converted into military bases by armed groups. The targeting of these educational institutions is considered part of the broader, ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.

“As an academic and human rights advocate, I am deeply troubled by the human rights abuses and international law violations that occurred in Al-Fasher, West Darfur, Sudan, at the hands of the RSF,” said Dugdug.

Allegations of genocide

Dugdug’s view is supported by an independent UN fact-finding mission in Sudan which indicated that the RSF attack on Al-Fasher and particularly the actions after the city fell bore “the hallmarks of genocide”.

Also, on 24 February, Human Rights Watch published a report alleging that Sudanese paramilitary forces killed, abused and targeted people with disabilities during and after their takeover of Al-Fasher, calling it the first time it had documented potential war crimes of “this type and scale”.

Call for action

The ministry also highlighted the legal and moral implications of the strikes, stressing that they breach protections for academic institutions under national and international law.

“The targeting of higher education and scientific research institutions is a complete crime and a gross violation of all national and international laws and customs that ensure the protection of academic institutions as protected civil facilities,” the ministry said.

It similarly urged regional and international organisations, as well as educational and human rights groups, to condemn the attacks and consider classifying the RSF militia as a ‘terrorist rebel group’, citing its organised targeting of civilian institutions and universities.

Continuing higher education and social peace-building

Despite the incident, the ministry affirmed Sudan’s commitment to protecting and rehabilitating affected institutions and ensuring accountability for those responsible.

“The journey of higher education will not stop in the face of these cowardly assaults. The state will remain committed to protecting and rehabilitating its educational institutions, and to holding anyone who threatens the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff [accountable],” the ministry said.

Dr Mosab Nouraldein Hamad, at the Centre for Research Excellence of Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University in Sudan, told University World News: “I was shocked by the news of drone strikes on Kordofan University but this should motivate Sudanese students and academic communities to join forces for continuing academic work as well as promoting social recovery and building a culture of peaceful coexistence ...”

He added that higher education institutions represented a fundamental platform for spreading community awareness, confronting hate speech and violence, promoting the values of tolerance, and building trust among the components of society for the restoration of the social fabric damaged by the war.

Expanding further, Professor Mohamed Hassan, the president of the Sudanese National Academy of Sciences, told University World News: “The attack on Kordofan University is magnifying the impact of the disastrous war on campuses, laboratories and libraries across Sudan, making reconstruction an urgent priority requiring massive investment and deep international collaboration.

“Rebuilding infrastructure, resources and digital networks demands resources beyond domestic capacity. Strategic partnerships with international institutions are, therefore, essential – providing technical expertise, facilitating knowledge transfer, and helping build resilient infrastructure ready to serve post-conflict Sudan,” Hassan said.

“The African, Arab, and International Associations of Universities can play a key role in connecting Sudanese institutions with global partners. Engaging the Sudanese academic diaspora is central to this effort.

“This vast network of scholars – many in distinguished positions at top universities worldwide – can serve as ideal bridges for fostering meaningful and sustained partnerships. A structured programme should harness their expertise and networks, facilitating regular visits to support teaching and advanced research in priority fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics [or STEM], artificial intelligence, and digital technologies,” Hassan suggested.