Sudan’s displaced students describe themselves as ‘the lost generation’ as exile derails education
Years of armed conflict in Sudan have displaced millions of people and upended nearly every aspect of daily life, including the higher education of a generation of young people now scattered across neighbouring countries and beyond. Many of those affected describe themselves as “the lost generation of Sudan,” confronting an uncertain academic future far from their home campuses.
A generation uprooted
Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, widespread violence has forced repeated waves of displacement, both within Sudan and across its borders. Universities have been shuttered, damaged, or repurposed, while lecturers and students have fled to Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and further afield. For many, the disruption has meant long suspensions of study, interrupted research, and the loss of academic records and institutional support.
The struggle to continue studying
Students who have reached relative safety abroad often face formidable obstacles in resuming their education. Tuition fees at foreign institutions are prohibitive for families whose savings have been depleted by war, and recognition of Sudanese qualifications and transcripts varies from country to country. Language barriers, legal residency requirements, and limited access to scholarships further restrict options. Some universities in the region have established modest programmes for displaced Sudanese scholars, but capacity remains far short of demand.
Online learning as a fragile lifeline
A number of Sudanese universities have attempted to continue instruction remotely, though patchy electricity, internet shutdowns, and the cost of connectivity in host countries make consistent participation difficult. Students report relying on shared devices, internet café visits, and the generosity of diaspora networks simply to attend lectures or submit assignments. The emotional toll is significant: many speak of guilt at being able to study while family members remain in danger, and of anxiety about what qualifications will mean in a country they may not be able to return to soon.
An uncertain horizon
With no clear end to the fighting in sight, displaced Sudanese students face difficult choices between pausing their studies indefinitely, seeking places at under-resourced local institutions, or attempting to build new academic careers in their host countries. Civil society groups and diaspora associations have called for greater international support, including dedicated scholarships, recognition frameworks, and investment in distance learning infrastructure. Until such measures scale up, many fear that an entire cohort risks being left behind — a generation whose potential contributions to Sudan’s recovery may never be fully realised.
Source: Al Jazeera — read the original report.
