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Sudan Tribune

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Khartoum University of Quran set ablaze

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A huge fire broke out at the Quran University in Khartoum on Wednesday morning, after a Molotov cocktail attack by Darfurian Students who protested against tuition fees.

black smoke rising from a building of the University of Quran in Omdurman as two people spray water trying to control fire on 11 November 2015 (ST Photo)
black smoke rising from a building of the University of Quran in Omdurman as two people spray water trying to control fire on 11 November 2015 (ST Photo)
Since 2013, the federal authorities and the Darfur Regional Authority agreed that only sons of refugees and displaced persons are eligible for the exemption of tuition. But several Darfurians student unions regularly contest this decision.

Student from Darfur region protested at the University of Quran in Omdurman twin’s city of Khartoum on Wednesday morning demanding to be exempted from tuition fee in line with the Abuja and Doha peace agreements.

The protest took place as the university administration rejected their claim, saying that the exemption cannot cover all the students from the western Sudan region.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that some students thrown Molotov cocktails on the University campus causing the fire.

They added that the fire reached many buildings including the dean office, the teachers’ offices, some halls and libraries. The police then cordoned the university and evacuate the students from the campus.

In a statement issued after the incident, the ministry of interior accused unidentified Darfurian students of causing riots at the university.

”A limited number of Darfur students had caused riots at the faculty of education of university of Quran.”

The ministry further explained that three offices, the deanship faculty office, lecture hall and one of the financial offices have been burnt down.

“When the university’s administration was asked about the cause, it reported that the fire was caused by some Darfur students who were protesting against the administration refusal to grant them exemptions of tuition fee,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, an university official who asked for anonymity said that the campus was set on fire at 6:00 AM and continue for long time before the arrival of firemen.

He further revealed that the university board was called for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the incident.

(ST)

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