The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is considering suspending the salaries of employees at three universities in the western Darfur region, citing a halt in their operations, Radio Tamazuj has learnt from high academic sources.
The sources have expressed their rejection of the decision.
According to the sources, the Minister of Higher Education issued a directive to suspend the salaries at Nyala, Zalingei, and Al-Geneina universities on Thursday, citing a halt in their operations. The information was communicated by the Vice-Chancellor of Nyala University, Prof Mohammed Ali Alhaj Alluba, to the deans of the faculties via a WhatsApp group.
A faculty member at the Al-Geneina University, Batoul Mahmoud, told Radio Tamazuj that she doubted the validity of the decision, as it was unexpected from a minister responsible for the welfare of employees.
“If there is an intention to stop the salaries of university employees due to the halt in operations, then the decision should also apply to the universities in Khartoum as they are also not operational,” Batoul said.
She pointed out that the universities’ closure was not due to the employees’ actions, but because of a war involving the state itself.
Batoul described the decision as ill-conceived, reflecting a “periphery vs center” mentality, which she claims had fueled all of Sudan’s wars. She emphasized that the law obligates the Ministry of Higher Education to pay salaries, as long as the employees did not cause the cessation.
Agreeing with Batoul, an employee at Zalingei University, Fadl Babiker, stated that the suspension of university operations was because of the war, not the employees.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, he said: “If the decision is true, it will exacerbate the employees’ suffering amidst the war and lack of livelihood means.”
Babiker said he believes the decision contradicts the values and the norms of civil service, both in the country and globally, and urged the minister to continue paying the employees.
Nyala University faculty member Dr Mohammed Eissa mentioned that one of the institution’s deans shared a WhatsApp group message, indicating that the Vice-Chancellor had informed them of the salary suspension, per the minister’s decision, unless the universities resumed operations.
A source from the Ministry of Higher Education told Radio Tamazuj that the minister was expected to retract the decision due to the strong objections.