12 April 2006 (Nairobi) – Malakal town yesterday witnessed the graduation of over 2,000 students of Upper Nile University.

Key speakers at the occasion, presided over by President Omar al Bashir, called for the return to the south of all the southern Sudanese universities transferred to the north during the war.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, student leader Bab Midan, urged the university administration to move the university’s College of Medicine from Khartoum to Malakal.

The university received a donation of $150,000 US from the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayaradit, to set up an electronic library.

General Mayardit also underlined the need to transfer all southern Sudanese universities to the south, arguing that he sees no reason for them to remain in the north.

President Bashir promised not only to return the southern universities to the south but also to establish new ones so that every state in the south will have a university.  He further promised to help the universities build classrooms and residences for the staff.