Students at the University of Juba -courtesy PHOTO// Marco Di Lauro

The administration of the University of Juba has banned student political activities, days after the students staged a peaceful protest against an increase in the tuition fees.

The students who said the demands by the administration to increase fees from SSP 50,000 and SSP 86,000 was not cognizant of the economic hardship they are going through.

A letter signed by students representing various political parties in the varsity was presented to the administration. They called on the President and the Council of Minister to overrule the directive of the administration.

Students of the University of Upper Nile based in Juba also joined in on the protest.

“The new fees are too much for [our] parents and guardians to afford,” the students argued.

Related story: https://www.eyeradio.org/students-from-the-university-of-juba-have-protested-an-increase-in-tuition-fees/

In response, the management of the University of Juba said it would not reverse its decision to increase tuition fees despite the outcry.

It followed with an order banning of all political activities by students within the campuses.

According to a letter seen by Eye Radio, and signed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Professor John Apuruot Akec; “all political activities within the University of Juba campuses of Custom, Atlabara, and the Freedom Tree have been banned indefinitely.”

The letter also directed all persons and security organs concerned to implement the order “until further communication [is] released from the university administration.”

Reacting to the order, Marko Agiu, the Information Secretary of the SPLM Student’s League at the University of Juba said they are holding on to see what the national government will say or do about the issue.

“We are waiting for the last decision from the government. [But] We respect the decision which has come from the University until we can resolve this problem,” Mr. Agiu said.

Attempts to reach the other students’ political groups were not immediately successful.