Post: #1 Title: Update: Seven students currently held incommunicado in unknown location after raid on university ho Author: SudaneseOnline Press Release Date: 05-24-2017, 01:26 AM
(23 May 2017) Demonstrations led by students on university campuses continue to be dispersed violently by Sudanese authorities. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) remains extremely concerned about the excessive use of force by security forces to disperse student gatherings within the month of May. ACJPS has documented three separate incidents, two of which occurred within a space of four days from 15 – 18 May 2017, at Al Azahri University in Khartoum and on 9 May 2017 at Bakht Al Rida University in White Nile state.
In the most recent incident on 18 May 2017, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and a pro-government student militia used tear gas and batons to raid a public forum held at a hostel affiliated with Al Azahri University, injuring ten students. Seven students were arrested and are currently detained incommunicado in an unknown location. The student forum was organised to address the expulsion of seven Darfuri students by the University after they participated in demonstrations calling for the administration to adhere to the fee exemption provided for under the 2006 Doha Peace Agreement
ACJPS notes that such attacks are extremely disruptive and raise serious concerns regarding students’ safe access to higher education.