Tensions have remained high at Sudan’s Bahri University (previously Juba University) following student riots that resulted in the the burning of the deanship building on Thursday.

Police intervened to contain the situation and reportedly opened cases against 64 students at Dorushab police station on charges of destruction of public properties and criminal infringement.

The student riots followed a political meeting of the Darfur Students Association last Monday to discuss the eviction of some Darfuri students for not paying tuition fees. The meeting was broken up by security forces and many students were detained.

The dismissed students had insisted not to pay university fees, citing the terms of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), which granted free education to any student from Darfur region who enrolled in Sudanese higher education institutions.

In spite of the high tensions, the university administration has not yet confirmed the suspension of classes.

Photo: A car on fire near the University of Bahri on 22 December 2014 (Radio Dabanga)