Khartoum – Sudan Now | May 17, 2026
The Governor of South Darfur State, Bashir Mursal Hasaballah, said that RSF detained and arrested more than 500 male and female students, preventing them from reaching Sudanese certificate examination centers in safe states.
RSF controls most states in the Darfur region, prompting thousands of students and families to attempt to relocate to states considered safe in order to continue their education and sit for the Sudanese certificate examinations, amid growing security and humanitarian challenges.
In media statements, the governor described the move as “an extension of the RSF’s crimes against civilians” and a direct targeting of the education process in Sudan.
He noted that the war and destruction affecting public and private institutions in South Darfur have disrupted wide sectors within the state, including education and essential services.
He explained that, despite the security conditions and limited resources, the state government managed to facilitate the sitting of 1,309 male and female students from South Darfur for the Sudanese certificate examinations in River Nile State, in addition to providing support for displaced persons and healthcare services.
Education in Sudan has faced major challenges since the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF in April 2023, with schooling suspended in several states, while thousands of students were forced to flee to other states or abroad to continue their education and sit for examinations.
Over the past two years, displaced students have repeatedly reported difficulties, including problems with transportation, obtaining official documents, accommodation, and rising living costs, in addition to security risks linked to the conflict and road closures in several affected areas.
International and local organizations have also warned of the long-term impact of the war on the education sector in Sudan, amid the destruction of hundreds of schools and the conversion of some into shelters for displaced people or military sites, raising concerns that an entire generation could be deprived of education and stability opportunities.
These developments come amid growing debate over the future of Sudanese certificate examinations in areas controlled by RSF, following earlier announcements by bodies affiliated with its allied civil administration regarding arrangements to organize exams within territories under its control. This has raised concerns about further complicating students’ conditions and deepening administrative and educational divisions in the country.
