The European Union Warns the Rapid Support Forces

Wolfram Vetter, head of the European Union delegation to Sudan, warned against the dangers of holding parallel secondary school certificate exams in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, saying it constitutes “an implicit call for secession.”

The “Foundation” coalition’s peace government announced on Monday the completion of technical, administrative, and security arrangements for holding the 2026 Sudanese Certificate exams in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, for the first time since the outbreak of war three years ago.

Vetter wrote on his Facebook page that holding parallel exams in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces constitutes “an implicit call for secession,” warning of the dangers of establishing parallel educational entities or systems.

He affirmed that the European Union supports the unity of Sudan and opposes any arrangements that would perpetuate division, including separate educational systems, stressing the need to preserve the national character of the educational process and safeguard the future of students throughout the country.

He said that protecting the education and future of young people must remain a priority, and that students should not be jeopardized by the repercussions of war.

The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee had also expressed its concern regarding the announcement by what it described as the “de facto government in Nyala” of its intention to unilaterally hold the Sudanese secondary school certificate exams in the areas under its control, warning of the repercussions of this move on the unity of the educational process in the country.

Since the outbreak of the ongoing war in April 2023, secondary school certificate exams have not been held in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in Kordofan and Darfur, while they have been held twice in areas controlled by the army.