Jonglei scholarship students in Ethiopia expelled over immigration documents

South Sudanese students from Jonglei State studying at Debre Tabor University in Ethiopia have reportedly been expelled over residence permits and other immigration documents.

The students are studying under scholarships provided by the Jonglei State government.

According to the chairperson of Jonglei State students at the university, the administration ordered the students to obtain the missing immigration documents by Friday last week or risk expulsion.

Speaking in footage shared online, Chudier David, the chairperson of Jonglei State students at the university, said the students have been refused entry into the university premises.

“When we tried to go and process our visas, our residential permit, we had found that our visas already got expired for almost 10 months. So, in that period, it was not possible for us to do the permit,” he said.

He said the students have not been allowed to attend lectures and other study activities since Friday last week.

Chudier said the students were unable to obtain residence permits and other required documents last year when they arrived in Ethiopia because they were unfamiliar with the procedures for processing the immigration documents.

“Right now, the university has expelled us out from the university because we don’t have residential permit. What we are just appealing for, we need help from the national government,” he appealed.

He appealed to the Jonglei State and national governments to intervene and allow the students to resume their studies.