The President of the Presidential Council of the Peace Government, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, attended celebrations in Nyala on Sunday after accepting an invitation from students marking the conclusion of the Sudanese Certificate examinations.
The event was held in a festive atmosphere, with students, teachers and education officials celebrating what the Peace Government described as a major achievement under the exceptional conditions created by Sudan’s ongoing war.
Addressing the ceremony, Dagalo said the successful organization of the Sudanese Certificate exams in areas under the Peace Government’s control demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting education and restoring public institutions despite the conflict.
He praised the determination of students who continued their studies during the war, as well as the efforts of teachers, ministries, education departments and community administrations that helped make the exams possible.
Dagalo said the completion of the exams had “broken barriers” and challenged those who sought to undermine the process. He accused unnamed countries and parties of attempting to obstruct the exams, arguing that their successful organization proved that education could continue despite the pressures facing the country.
The Presidential Council chief said the government would continue working to develop the education sector, rehabilitate schools and reopen universities.
“We will make it a reality, despite the wishes of the skeptics,” he said, adding that students who completed the exams would be able to continue their studies inside Sudan and abroad.
Dagalo also criticized what he described as the hypocrisy of parties that speak about human rights and children’s rights while millions of Sudanese students have been deprived of education for three years.
He urged students to continue their academic journey and focus on their studies, while praising the Rapid Support Forces for what he said was their role in enabling students to study and sit for the exams. He also prayed for the dead, the wounded, prisoners of war and missing persons, and accused the “Islamic Movement Army” of killing prisoners of war.
During the ceremony, Dagalo directed authorities to accelerate construction of a new school in Nyala named Al-Wahda Model School, describing it as the first of its kind in the city. He also called for speeding up the marking of the Sudanese Certificate exams and opening advanced universities to absorb students.
The Peace Government said holding the exams under complex wartime conditions reflected its view that education is a national priority and a foundation for human development, security, stability and sustainable peace.
Hawa Sharoufa, principal of Al-Wahda School in Nyala, thanked Dagalo for accepting the students’ invitation and described the successful conclusion of the exams as the result of coordinated efforts by government institutions, education authorities and local communities.
She said students who were able to sit for the exams under such difficult conditions had shown strong determination and would play an important role in the future of education and the country.
The ceremony included several student-led segments, with participants expressing joy at completing their exams and voicing hopes for a better future.
At the conclusion of the event, the Peace Government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting education and expanding opportunities for students, saying investment in human capital remains central to achieving peace and stability in Sudan.
