Defying War and Exclusion: Exams Commence in South and East Darfur Amid Conflict

Darfur Sudan – Blue News

In a powerful display of determination and resilience, primary and intermediate school exams commenced on Wednesday, May 28, across 13 localities in South Darfur, with nearly 8,000 students participating—a remarkable feat in a country gripped by war and systemic educational disruption.

The Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) released a statement hailing the moment as a “victory of will over war,” despite what it described as systematic marginalization by the Port Sudan-based military authorities, which it accused of pursuing racist and exclusionary policies against students in Darfur and Kordofan.

While eight localities in South Darfur did not join due to ongoing instability, all nine localities in East Darfur successfully launched the examinations in recent weeks. The exams were administered by committees composed of civil administration leaders, RSF education and women’s affairs advisors, and directors from various education and security departments.

TASIS emphasized that the decision to hold exams under such dangerous and exceptional conditions underscores the Sudanese people’s deep commitment to education, even as warplanes roar above and bullets fly. “Our people have proven once again that the will to live and the pursuit of hope are stronger than bullets and aerial bombardment,” the statement read.

The organization lauded the immense efforts by local teachers, administrators, and communities, working under extreme pressure to keep education alive. It also criticized what it called the “military racist jihadist regime” in Port Sudan, accusing it of weaponizing education by depriving thousands of students across Sudan of their basic right to learn.

According to TASIS, the successful launch of exams in Darfur symbolizes a broader rejection of tyranny and apartheid and reflects the growing capacity of Sudanese communities to organize and manage their affairs independently.

“This is a real victory over the project of tyranny and racism,” the statement declared, reaffirming TASIS’s commitment to making education a cornerstone of the upcoming civil founding government, as part of a broader national transformation.

TASIS concluded by reiterating that the revolution will not cease until the oppressive regime is dismantled and a Sudan built on freedom, peace, and justice emerges.