Ethiopian Premier Dr Abiy Ahmed

The Ethiopian government has ordered all foreign students who are studying in Ethiopia to leave the country, including South Sudanese students due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The students were studying on government scholarship in Ethiopia.

They stated that the Ethiopian government has not given them a specific period to leave the country.

Gatwech Nhial is the chairperson of the South Sudanese students association in Ethiopia.

Mr. Nhial told Eye Radio by phone from Addis Ababa that the Ethiopian government has ordered all foreign students to leave the country, including S. Sudanese.

“The Ethiopian government has requested any foreign nations to evacuate their citizens in Ethiopia including South Sudanese. We have been asked to evacuate Ethiopia within a limited time,” Nhial said.

“No days were given but we are just there waiting until there is a flight. If there is a flight tomorrow, maybe we can come.”

Another student who preferred not to be identified added that:

“So far all the national students have evacuated and nobody is at the premises of the campus because the order was issued by the Ministry of General Education of Ethiopia, said the unnamed student.

“It is now only the South Sudanese students who are actually living on the campuses.”

“We actually do not know what the government is doing about this. The only thing we know is the government approved the money. But so far everything is quiet we don’t know what is happening.”

For his part, the Minister of Higher education Denay Jock Chagor has requested the Ethiopian government to retain South Sudanese who are studying there.

“The government of the Republic of South Sudan is kindly requesting you [Ethiopia] that, all South Sudanese students who are studying in Ethiopia shall remain there during this difficult time of pandemic disease Covid19,”

“The government of South Sudan will be responsible for their feeding and other needs.”

Similarly, the High-Level Taskforce yesterday [Satruday] directed the Ministry of Finance to act fast to ensure students in Ethiopia are supported within the shortest time.

Last week, the government of South Sudan agreed to offer $3 million to students studying in coronavirus-affected countries.

These countries include Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, India, and China.

However, some students studying in various universities in Ethiopia told Eye Radio that they are yet to receive the money promised.

Others claimed that they are the only students still staying at the campuses of those countries affect by the coronavirus.