Delegates to the annual congress of the higher and further education union UCU voted overwhelmingly to support a resolution condemning the war in Sudan and calling on the British government to ensure that refugees from the conflict can reach safety in Britain.
10 Stop the war in Sudan – refugees welcome – National executive committee
Congress notes the devastation caused by war in Sudan. Civilians are paying the price for the military struggle to control the country’s government and resources.
Congress believes foreign powers, including the British government, contributed to this conflict by pressing Sudanese democratic forces to negotiate power-sharing agreements with the warring military and militia generals. Regional states allied to Britain, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Israel have fuelled the crisis through support to the combatants.
Congress further believes that Britain has an obligation to provide safe, legal routes for Sudanese citizens to seek asylum in Britain. Many British citizens of Sudanese origin have faced the agony of seeing family members trapped by this conflict.
Congress resolves to support NEC, BMSC and branches in working with MENA Solidarity, other trade unions and Sudanese organisations to:
- host an emergency solidarity event
- lobby parliamentarians
- publicise solidarity actions to members.
Sudanese activists spoke to many delegates at the MENA Solidarity stall during the congress and distributed postcards and information about the current situation in Sudan as well as raising funds for medical aid. They met UCU General Secretary Jo Grady and UCU President Justine Mercer who both pledged their solidarity.
Rania Obead is a UCU member and a Sudanese activist from Glasgow. She told Middle East Solidarity that the stall and campaigns got a warm reception from delegates.
For the three days of the conference, delegates approached MENA solidarity stall and asked about Sudan and how they can help. Many donated to the Sudanese Doctors Union appeal and some said they will forward the donations details to their branch colleagues. Also some delegates said they will organise a meeting in their branch about Sudan and will ask us to help in getting in touch with a speaker.”
Rania Obead
The stall also highlighted other campaigns supported by MENA Solidarity including the ongoing case of Leeds University PhD student Salma al-Shehab, who is currently in jail in Saudi Arabia after being sentenced to 27 years in prison for tweets about women’s rights, and solidarity with Iranian trade unionists and activists in the face of the crackdown following last autumn’s uprising. Ameen Nemr is an activist from Saudi Arabia who joined the stall at UCU congress to talk to delegates about Salma’s case. He said:
Salma went on hunger strike in March 2023 in protest to her imprisonment and the show trial. She stopped it few weeks later to take her medication. Salma should finish her PhD and start her career instead of being punished for her peaceful tweet.”
Ameen Nemr
What you can do:
MENA Solidarity Network 