The University of Khartoum’s Deans council has ordered dismissal of 17 students for allegedly being involved in recent demonstrations, attacking teachers, and destroying property and examination papers.

According to a press statement obtained by Shourouk network Tuesday, the council also halted lectures and closed eight faculties in the central campus in Khartoum.

The council blamed students for escalating violence and attacking former University of Khartoum Chancellor Abdu Al-Malek Mohammed Abdu Rahaman.

For their part, students said their dismissal was politically motivated and they threatened to go to court to overturn the decision.

Wifaq Gurashi, one of the dismissed students, told Radio Tamazuj the decision by the council was politically motivated because it has not come through the right channels.

She accused the University’s deans council of conspiring with the security organs to break the students' will and to dismiss them.

Meanwhile, heavy police and security forces cars were seen surrounding the university campus yesterday and students were forced to evacuate their dormitories.

Sources noted that dozens of students were arrested by police and handed to security agents who were around the campus.

The dismissals and arrests come as university campuses around Sudan have erupted in protest of the killings of students in the last month.

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