Student escapes Sudan war to start university course

A student escaped the civil war in Sudan and embarked on a four-month journey dodging bullets and surviving arrest to start a masters course at the University of Warwick.

When the civil war broke out between Sudan’s military and a paramilitary group in April 2023, Amin Elsheikh, 27, had to flee for his life from his home in the capital, Khartoum, where the conflict initially erupted.

With rebel militia soldiers blocking all routes out of the city, Mr Elsheikh was forced to go through a dozen checkpoints.

At one point he was arrested and held for half a day because soldiers had found a few US dollars on him.

At another point his bus driver had to swerve out of the way of gunfire.

The ordeal continued as the bus then made a 15-hour journey cross-country to the Ethiopian border, as passengers feared that the bus could be attacked by looters or rebel gangs.

"I feared for my life. Looking back on it, I feel lucky to be alive. But millions still stuck in Sudan are not so lucky," he said.

Mr Elsheikh was living with family in Khartoum, where the fiercest fighting was, but said luckily they were out of the country at that time.

"The situation is dire. Some of my family remain in the country, and in recent weeks I have lost contact with them because the militia have decided to cut all networks in the areas they control," he said.

"My father refuses to leave the country, he is a cardiac surgeon and felt it is his duty to stay in his post.

"Unfortunately the hospital he used to manage is now engulfed by the war, [however] he managed to flee to a safe region."

On the evening of 24 September, four months after he had left his home in Khartoum and after a two-month battle to rescue his passport, Mr Elsheikh arrived at the University of Warwick campus.

The very next day he started his full-time masters in business administration.

Mr Elsheikh said he was extremely thankful to Warwick Business School for its response during his ordeal, bringing his course entry forward because of the war and topping up his scholarship.

“To provide me with a scholarship in my hour of need was a truly wonderful gesture,” he said.

The 27-year-old's course will finish in September, after which, his future is unclear.

"My heart is still at home in Sudan, and I would love to return and help rebuild my country, but the war is getting worse and the country is on the verge of famine.

"Unfortunately, the ongoing conflict has made it very difficult to travel and relocate, but I remain hopeful."

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