KHARTOUM – The Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has ordered the immediate rehabilitation of student dormitories and facilities at the University of Khartoum following an on-site inspection of war-damaged infrastructure.
Accompanied by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Director of the University of Khartoum, al-Burhan toured several student hostels on Wednesday, assessing the extent of destruction caused by the ongoing conflict and reviewing the facilities’ maintenance and rehabilitation needs.
Directive for Immediate Action
During the visit, al-Burhan issued a directive for the immediate commencement of repair, rehabilitation, and equipping work across the university’s dormitories. The directive aims to ensure the facilities are ready to accommodate students and provide an appropriate environment for the resumption of academic activities at one of Africa’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
The Chairman also personally contributed financial support toward the rehabilitation of the hostels and university facilities, reaffirming the state’s commitment to restoring higher education institutions and reviving their academic role. During the tour, al-Burhan was briefed on ongoing arrangements to rehabilitate the university’s facilities and listened to its future plans and needs.
A Legacy Under Siege
Founded in 1902 as Gordon Memorial College, the University of Khartoum is the largest and oldest university in Sudan and has long been recognized as one of Africa’s top academic institutions. However, since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the institution has suffered extensive damage.
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Labs, lecture halls, and dormitories have all borne the scars of war. The university’s main campus, located in one of the most damaged parts of Khartoum, saw classrooms and laboratories looted and burned, with some facilities reportedly repurposed as military barracks during the fighting. A specialized committee at the university recently issued an appeal to alumni to help rehabilitate one of the institution’s oldest and most renowned lecture halls, which “suffered extensive damage as a result of the bombing” due to the buildings’ proximity to combat zones.
Broader Educational Recovery Efforts
The visit is part of broader state efforts to rehabilitate educational institutions affected by the war and to facilitate the resumption of regular academic activities. The conflict has severely impacted Sudan’s higher education sector, with reports indicating that approximately 80 per cent of institutions are no longer operational, and 124 universities and colleges have been destroyed or looted.
Prime Minister Dr. Kamel Idris recently inaugurated the second phase of reconstruction of university students’ housing complexes in Khartoum State, while the Ministry of Higher Education has been working to coordinate rehabilitation efforts across multiple institutions. University officials have indicated that rehabilitation is underway ahead of the new semester, though much work remains.
“This is a critical step in restoring Sudan’s academic heritage,” a university official was quoted as saying following the Chairman’s visit. “The University of Khartoum has educated generations of Sudanese leaders and professionals. Rebuilding it is rebuilding the future of our nation.”
The visit and directive signal the government’s determination to restore higher education as a cornerstone of national recovery, even as the broader conflict continues to challenge the country’s institutions and infrastructure
