Sudan: Police Academy Expels Southerners Who Celebrated Fall of Heglig

Photo: Hannah McNeish/IRIN
Troops in South Sudan

Khartoum — The Sudanese interior ministry today said that it has permanently suspended all South Sudan students from its Police Academy over gestures they made in celebration of the fall of Heglig which took place last Tuesday.

South Sudan's army entered Heglig after what it claimed was attacks by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) inside its territories which forced Juba's army to engage and pursue them all the way to Heglig.

Heglig lies inside South Kordofan's state and is internationally recognized to be part of Sudan. However, in recent days South Sudanese officials asserted that the oil-rich region belongs to the south and in particular to Unity state.

But South Sudan's occupation drew international condemnation amid demands for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

The ministry said that the southerners were celebrating Heglig's capture in a manner inconsistent with Sudanese laws and rules of Police and Law Sciences School.

According to the statement on the ministry's website, the students "irritated" their Sudanese counterparts and used inappropriate language prompting their dismissal in accordance with rules and regulations.

The press release noted that the South Sudanese students were studying on a grant provided by the Sudanese government. It did not provide figures about their numbers but suggested that none will be left after today's decision.

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