The South Sudanese embassy in Egypt is unable to issue visas at its offices in Cairo.

Officials have now been forced to work in their houses due to the strike of students demanding unpaid bursaries. The students, who ‘relocated’ to the embassy in late June, say they have not received the money for almost a year now.

Ambassador Mawien Makol told Eye Radio that the staff have not been working at the offices from almost three weeks now.

“So, the issue of visa has been a problem,” Amb Makol said. “We are waiting until the issue is solved so that students go back to their places and then the embassy can be able play their role.”

There are more than 160 students on government scholarship in Egypt. Each receives more than 100 US dollars monthly as allowances.

Students told Eye Radio that they occupied the embassy premises because they could not afford the cost of rent.

Officials from both the Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs have urged the students to be patient and give the government some time to address the matter.