Students call for cessation of war in Sudan

Sudanese army soldiers sit atop a parked tank after their capture of a base used by the rival Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries. May 26, 2025. [AFP]

Students around the East African region have joined voices calling for the cessation of war in Sudan.

The students, through the East Africa Students Union, led by President Anthony Manyara, expressed concern over the unfolding situation in the Republic of Sudan, which they warned could explode, morphing into a serious humanitarian crisis. 

"It is a humanitarian calamity of staggering proportions and more than that, it is a moral test for all who claim to stand for peace, justice, and dignity of African people," Manyara said.

According to Manyara, reports of chemical weapons usage, ethnic cleansing in Darfur, the targeting of women through mass rape and the destruction of humanitarian corridors, paint a picture of war that has crossed every line of human decency and international law. 

"We condemn these acts unequivocally. They are war crimes. And if verified, they are crimes against humanity," he noted.  

He asserted that the entire East African Students Unions representing youth and students from across reaffirm their solidarity with the Sudanese people.  

On May 5, 2025, a United Nations aid convoy comprising 15 trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was attacked near Alkoma, en route to the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur. 

"The assault resulted in five fatalities and multiple injuries. While both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have denied responsibility, local sources and preliminary assessments suggest the possibility of an airstrike potentially involving drone technology," stated Manyara.

The regional union is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and protection of all civilians, especially women and children.