In Chad, a student strike was officially declared on January 31, 2024. Classes are disrupted at universities due to a crisis between students and officials at the University of Ndjamena. In question, the latter’s refusal to rehabilitate students excluded for bad behavior but whose courts have ordered their re-registration. On site, the movement creates tensions. Explanations.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Ndjamena, Olivier Monodji
At Chad, classes have been disrupted in universities for several days due to a crisis between students and university officials. For good reason, the latter’s refusal to rehabilitate students excluded in October 2023 for bad behavior but whose re-registration was ordered by the courts.
Faced with the intransigence of the university president, the students decided to take a strong approach by calling a strike. In the early hours of the day, the police intervened in the premises of the capital’s universities to prevent the installation of barricades and avoid breakages.
“ Thirty-two unjustly excluded students were rehabilitated by court decision »
The president of the National Union of Chadian Students (Unet), Mahamat Saleh Ahmat Ali, calls for a strike to rehabilitate excluded students: “ Thirty-two unjustly excluded students were rehabilitated by court decision. The university presidency refuses to implement the said decision. In solidarity, the Unet national office is launching a dry and unlimited strike across the entire national territory from February 1, 2024. »
But the students are not unanimous. Yaya Barkaï Mahamat, Executive Secretary of the Unet section of Ndjamena, does not share the position of his comrades: “ And even if we also convened a disciplinary council in relation to their behavior? Imagine: we are in a university, people come with razors to bully people, they are outside the mandate. We are not obliged to respect them. People must return to classes as normal. »
“ It’s not up to students to do justice »
The current tension only delays the academic year, some students believe. “ They even disrupted several sessions that were scheduled, and they again started a strike which is not desirablesays one of them. It’s not up to students to do justice “.
Around ten students, including the president of Unet, were arrested and placed at the police station yesterday evening for disturbing public order. The presidency of the University of Ndjamena did not respond to requests from RFI.
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