Security forces storm El-Fasher university and arrest dozens

Security forces reportedly stormed El-Fasher university on Wednesday morning October 10, where students are continuing their sit-in for the third consecutive day. The security forces stormed the university using teargas and beating students with batons, sticks and fire hoses. A student told Radio Dabanga that the security forces arrested dozens of students, most of them women, including Rufaida, Zuleikha, Najad and male student Mohamed Alshazly. The student added the security forces caught them by surprise, as they stormed the medical faculty in approximately ten vehicles at around 11 o’clock on Wednesday morning and started assaulting students. He continued that the security forces chased students, even inside the university dorms, he added. They stormed the female dorms of the university (Kawthar) and arrested several female students, he added to Radio Dabanga from the university. After the arrests, the security forces locked the university compound’s gates and guarded the premises. The male dorms (Alrasheed) were also stormed by the security forces and students were trapped inside until Wednesday evening. The student disclosed that the university administration considers the sit-in a ‘student riot’. He added that they formed a committee, led by the students’ dean, to hold the responsible students accountable, he explained to Radio Dabanga from the university. Darfuri students resign from Dongola university More than 90 students reportedly resigned from Dongola university, on Wednesday. The students submitted their resignations as a protest against the university administration’s decision about the payment of tuition fees.Despite what is stipulated in both the Doha and Abuja agreements, the Darfuri students are now obliged to pay the fees. One of the students who submitted his resignation, told Radio Dabanga they have been suffering from the administration department’s instability since the beginning of the academic year. According to the student, the administration treats them badly, as if they are members of an armed movement instead of students, he added. He appealed to the regional authorities and humanitarian organizations to intervene and support the students to solve the issues, he told Radio Dabanga from Dongola.Related content: Dozens of students arrested in El-Fasher (9 October 2012)