In Halfa, Sudan, a total of 305 investment projects have been established around the perimeter of several government schools. These projects, which include workshops, car washes, and salons, have raised concerns among local activists about their impact on the educational environment. The projects are concentrated around several schools, including the Fikri Abdoun Commercial School, which has 23 projects, and the Commercial School for Boys, which has 92 projects.
According to Antarah Hassan Abdoun, founder of the Halfa New City Popular Movement, many of these projects are operating in a manner that is detrimental to the school environment, particularly for girls' schools. He stated that some of these projects are rented for very low prices, ranging from 1,500 to 8,000 Sudanese pounds, which he believes is significantly lower than the prevailing market rates.
Abdoun also pointed out that some investment contracts were concluded through lawyers, which he claims is in contravention of the regulations governing school investments. Additionally, he mentioned that there are cases of sub-letting and that some investors continue to occupy their sites even after their contract periods have expired.
The distribution of these investment projects spans several schools in Halfa, including the Ashkeit School with 39 projects, the Amiriyah Girls' School with 30 projects, and the Muhammad Eid Girls' School with 41 projects. The Halfa Secondary School for Boys has 23 projects, while the Dahab Abd al-Jaber Girls' School has 49 projects. Furthermore, there are eight investment projects at the Cooperative School for Boys.
On September 24, 2026, the Popular Movement submitted a memorandum to the head of the Legal Department of Kassala State, requesting a halt to what it termed as "random investments" in schools in Halfa. The memorandum highlighted concerns about the documentation of investments through lawyers, violations of regulations, and sub-letting.
The Legal Department of Kassala State forwarded the complaint to the Minister of Education and Guidance in the state on the same day, seeking his comments and feedback. The memorandum also mentioned that an area of 2,250 meters of the Commercial School for Boys had been allocated to a single investor.
Abdoun has called on the relevant authorities in the state and at the federal level to intervene and review the file on school investments, with the aim of creating a suitable learning environment for students.
Key points
- The investments include 305 projects, mostly workshops and car washes.
- The projects have raised concerns about their impact on the educational environment.
- Activists are demanding a review of contracts and rental fees.
