Sudanese secondary school examinations began on Sunday in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking the first such exams to be held in Darfur since the outbreak of war in April 2023. The move has raised concerns that it could further entrench the country’s political and administrative divisions.
The commander of the RSF and head of the Presidential Council of Sudan’s parallel government, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), officially launched the examinations by ringing the opening bell at Al-Wahda Girls Secondary School in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, in the presence of officials, students, and teachers.
The administration of separate examinations in RSF-controlled areas has sparked widespread concern over the potential institutionalization of Sudan’s political and administrative fragmentation, despite repeated domestic and international calls to keep education out of the conflict.
Earlier, a group of national and academic figures launched the National Initiative to Save the Future of Sudanese Secondary School Students, calling for unified examinations for all students across the country.
Months ago, the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee, an independent trade union, proposed the formation of a neutral and independent national committee composed of highly qualified and reputable education experts to coordinate and supervise examinations throughout Sudan.
The committee warned that conducting separate examinations in areas controlled by both the government and the RSF could create a dangerous pathway toward the administrative and political partition of the country.
