Rehabilitation work at El Fasher University in Sudan’s North Darfur state is progressing under a community-led initiative aimed at restoring academic facilities and preparing the institution to resume teaching after years of disruption caused by the war.
The initiative, launched by Sultan Ahmed Ali Dinar, has brought together community leaders, traditional authorities, young people and volunteers to undertake cleaning, maintenance and restoration work across the university.
According to a report published by Blue News, university officials said more than 10 faculties and teaching facilities had reached varying stages of readiness, although additional repairs and preparations remain necessary before academic activities can fully resume.
The initiative represents a local effort to revive one of Darfur’s major institutions of higher education after prolonged fighting severely disrupted academic life and damaged educational infrastructure.
Communities mobilise to rebuild education
Organisers have called on university graduates, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and Sudanese communities at home and abroad to support the rehabilitation programme.
The effort, promoted under a campaign to restore the university’s role as a centre of learning, seeks to mobilise financial resources, volunteers and technical assistance to complete outstanding work.
Community representatives described the rehabilitation of educational institutions as essential to restoring normal life and preventing further disruption to the studies of young Sudanese.
They also stressed that rebuilding universities requires cooperation between academic institutions, local communities and the authorities responsible for education.
The RSF’s official media channel has separately publicised the initiative, highlighting community participation in efforts to rehabilitate El Fasher University.
TASIS moves to restore higher education
The latest rehabilitation activities come as the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) Government of Peace and Unity pursues a broader programme to restore higher education across areas under its administration.
The government’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research previously announced a 10-point strategy covering university rehabilitation, academic continuity, institutional restructuring and the protection of students and teaching staff.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi recently said technical preparations for university admissions had been completed, with application requirements and available academic programmes expected to be published by the ministry.
The government has also undertaken administrative changes affecting universities in Darfur and other conflict-affected regions.
El Fasher University’s rehabilitation is a separate community-led effort that could support those wider plans by helping restore physical facilities needed for teaching.
Preparations continue
Despite the progress reported by organisers, no confirmed date has been announced for the university’s full reopening under the current rehabilitation initiative.
Further work is needed to establish the condition of teaching facilities, equipment and essential infrastructure before students can return safely.
For communities in North Darfur, however, the restoration effort signals an attempt to move beyond emergency survival and rebuild institutions considered essential to the region’s long-term recovery.
Organisers have pledged to continue rehabilitation activities and expand community participation until the university is prepared to resume its academic role.
