[4] In December 2004 a conference was held to discuss the effect of environmental degradation in causing conflict in Darfur.

Faculty and students of the universities of Zalingei, al-Fashir and Nyala presented the findings of their research.

They made recommendations that included closer cooperation between the UN and local universities, joint research projects and collaborative workshops.

[5] On 28 October 2019, the Minister of Welfare and Social Development, Lena el-Sheikh Mahjoub, and the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, opened the Human Rights Knowledge Centre at al-Fashir University, as a cooperative project between the university and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

[6] In October 2010 five students of the university loyal to the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi were arrested by police and were severely beaten before being released on bail.