![Entry gate of Bahr el Ghazal University [Photo via Radio Tamazuj]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5d36e77209d64.jpeg?resize=850%2C400&ssl=1)
The strike, which began two weeks ago, has disrupted the academic calendar, affecting students. The university staff are urging the government to address their grievances over unpaid salaries and arrears.
Almas Gabriel, a lecturer at the university, said the staff were expected to start the new academic year, with some students scheduled for retake exams, but these plans have been suspended due to the strike.
“We were expecting a meeting on Friday at 10 a.m., but it never happened. This is now a serious case, a serious demand that everyone has to take a stand. We have suffered a lot, and our rights have to be met,” he told Sudans Post on Friday.
The lecturers are also demanding medical allowances, flight tickets since 2019, and 10 months of unpaid salaries, which they say the government has yet to fulfill despite previous agreements and promises.
Despite recent payment of a one-month salary for December 2023, lecturer Christopher Rodolfo Albino said the payment is insufficient to resolve their ongoing challenges.
“Our demands must be met; otherwise, we cannot work,” he said. “Our children are hungry, and we cannot continue to work.”
Marion Chigai, a fourth-year medical student at the university, said the strike has significantly impacted the academic calendar.
“We were supposed to resume in September, but the strike affected us. We do not have any clue when we shall resume lectures,” she said, calling on the government to pay the lecturers so students can return to their studies.
During a demonstration on Tuesday in Wau, Joseph Lual Dario, chairperson of the academic staff association at Bahr el-Ghazal University, stated that despite raising their concerns, the government has ignored their pleas.
“We have come to the conclusion that from today onward, there is no work because we are here for our demands. We gave a one-week warning, but there has been no response from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Finance,” Lual said.
“We are telling the public that the situation is very serious; we are suffering, our families are suffering,” he chanted to the crowd of demonstrating lecturers and support staff.
The lecturers recently held a meeting with the workers’ trade union and members of the executive committee to discuss their demonstration. However, the meeting reportedly failed under unclear circumstances.
