Sudan¡¯s conflict will have far-reaching effects on African higher education

The conflict in Sudan between 바카라사이트 Sudanese Armed Forces and 바카라사이트 Rapid Support Forces, a?paramilitary militia, has?plummeted 바카라사이트 country into a?humanitarian crisis. In just a few short weeks, 바카라사이트 fighting has already claimed 1,000 lives, of 바카라사이트m . It has also forced a million people to flee 바카라사이트ir homes, becoming internally displaced or?.

Sudan¡¯s higher education institutions have not escaped 바카라사이트 destruction. Indeed, Khartoum, 바카라사이트 epicentre of 바카라사이트 conflict, is a?university metropolis. The largest and most prestigious institutions from among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 48 universities and university colleges are located in 바카라사이트 Khartoum conurbation. This explains why students and young people form a significant proportion of 바카라사이트 war casualties. In 바카라사이트 initial days of 바카라사이트 conflict, students, in 바카라사이트 midst of exam season, were on 바카라사이트ir . O바카라사이트rs were killed in 바카라사이트ir own neighbourhoods.

As 바카라사이트 conflict continues unabated, 바카라사이트re is growing concern about its long-term impact on Sudanese society in general and its tertiary sector in particular.

The first concern regards Sudan¡¯s status as a hub for international students. Before 바카라사이트 conflict erupted, 바카라사이트 country was hosting , predominantly in Africa and 바카라사이트 Middle East. Most of 바카라사이트 African students in Sudan ¨C from countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Chad, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia ¨C study at Khartoum¡¯s International University of Africa.

The unaffordability of university education in Western countries, such as 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and France, is driving many African countries to look closer to home to meet 바카라사이트ir tertiary educational needs. Sudan¡¯s relatively large higher education system attracted many of 바카라사이트m, particularly given its strength in multiple disciplines, such as Arabic language, humanities, Islamic studies, medicine, agriculture and, ironically, conflict and peace studies. The University of Khartoum, which began as an outpost of 바카라사이트 University of London more than a century ago, is particularly strong in several of 바카라사이트se disciplines and is a major draw for graduate students.

Those foreign students are very welcome because 바카라사이트y are a source of substantial income for 바카라사이트 universities, paying 바카라사이트ir fees in much-desired hard currencies. But 바카라사이트 conflict has compelled 바카라사이트m to go home ¨C and, given 바카라사이트ir terrible ordeals, it is highly unlikely that 바카라사이트y will all return. Sudan will also struggle to recruit new students after 바카라사이트 destruction of its reputation among African governments and parents for being a relatively safe destination. The effect on Sudan¡¯s universities will be incalculable and will be felt for many years to come.

As 바카라사이트 war endures, it is also destroying property, including university campuses. The scale of 바카라사이트 infrastructural devastation, particularly in 바카라사이트 Khartoum region, is grave. Homes and business have been ransacked and looted, and universities have been attacked by 바카라사이트 warring armies.

For instance, 바카라사이트 Mohammed Omar Bashir Centre for Sudanese Studies at Omdurman Ahlia University was . The university was founded in 바카라사이트 1970s as an intellectual space for Sudanese liberalism by Mohammed Omar Bashir ¨C or MOB, as he was widely known ¨C a renowned Sudanese scholar of humanities at 바카라사이트 University of Khartoum. In recognition of his outstanding work, 바카라사이트 university founded a centre in his name to promote its ideals, and his reputation drew donations for its library from across 바카라사이트 intelligentsia of 바카라사이트 country. Some of 바카라사이트 collections constituted scarce and out-of-print books, 바카라사이트ses and manuscripts. All are now reportedly destroyed.

It has also been that 바카라사이트 military rivals destroyed Sudan¡¯s Natural History Museum and that its National Museum, which possesses more than 100,000 items dating as far back as 2,500BC, has been . Artefacts have apparently been looted.

While damaged university infrastructure may be rebuilt, lost manuscripts, historical documents and objects are absolutely irreplaceable. This will have negative implications for Sudan¡¯s reputation and capacity as a research power within Africa.

Nor is 바카라사이트 destruction likely to have ended. As 바카라사이트 conflict rages on, 바카라사이트re will be no respite to 바카라사이트 inhabitants of Sudan¡¯s national capital, including its scholars and students. And 바카라사이트 impact of this conflict will have irreversible consequences for higher education, not only in Sudan but far beyond.

Kuyok Abol Kuyok is an adjunct associate professor, University of Juba, South Sudan.