The sanctions against the Sudanese government's involvement in the human rights abuses in the west of the country have left many of Sudan's marginalized people without access to support from international NGOs and bilateral aid. The difficulty arises from a restricted definition of marginalization on the global stage that recapitulates the tribal-based racism within Sudan by simply inverted those who are favored and dis-favored. The government of Sudan defines those who are (self) defined as of Arab descent and those who follow Islam as superior to Africans and non-Muslims. By this logic the people of Northern Sudan, who are predominantly Arab Muslims and are numerically well-represented in the government, are superior to other Sudanese - in the eyes of those who govern. In the world of NGOs and USAID this is inverted to mean that northern Sudan is not a priority area for assistance.

The irony is that the north of Sudan is severely neglected by the central government. Schools, clinics and roads are in short supply or are of poor quality. Teachers are poorly paid, if they are paid at all. Students quit school to help make money to feed their families and if they continue at school they do so without texts, notebooks, pencils or lights at home at night.

The region was, indeed, once a model of strong Sudanese education, and the people of the region remember and want to re-create this system. As well, there are those who have plans to assist re-build the education system in the north, but they are unable to find the funding needed to carry out this mission.