By Eng. Maker Mangol Acien Yuol
As I learned from sources in Ethiopia, our colleagues, whom we left struggling with studies, since 2023, face expatriation over residential Permit fees/visa.
Over 1,500 South Sudanese students, who, from mid 2023, started facing the predicament of residential permit fees.
The government of Ethiopia through migration department levied the residential permit fees and the charges against foreigners, where South Sudanese are the most affected elements there.
The residential permit fee of about 150 USD is paid by parents of the students every year and if one fails to pay, the government of Ethiopia charges the students with 30 USD per day as a fine. The cumulative figure increases by number of days one spends.
This has left many students financially strained. For example, if you stayed for one year without residential permit, then, you will have to pay a fine of 30×356 days it amounts to 10,680 USD per year and if you stayed for 2 years without residential permit then you will have to pay a fine bill of 21,360 USD.
This money will be paid through Ethiopian Immigration & Citizenship Service (ICS) department when a student graduated or wants to go for holidays. The student will be asked to pay a fine as indicated.
Ethiopian Scholarships cover only tuitions and accommodations fees while other upkeeps and Bureaucratic documentation of legality are paid by the parents or gradients of the students, as per the recent development.
As former Secretary-General of South Sudan Students’ Union in Ethiopia, I urge South Sudan government, through Ministry of higher education and Ministry of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation, to intervene.
The government should handle the case of our students who are stranded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as a result of the Residential Permit fees or Visa issues.
The two governments, South Sudan and Ethiopia could reach an understanding to wave off the Residential permit or Visa and review the Memorandum of Understanding of these Scholarships to fix this sensitive matter that affects our students so miserably.
Ethiopia as one of the good friends, treats our students equally like their Nationalists.
Many South Sudanese who have joined the nation-building in various fields today, acquired their education in Ethiopia, hence the amity among the two nations calls for continuous nurturing.
Ethiopia accepts nearly 500 South Sudanese students on scholarship every year and this is a very huge number that will put the country in right direction. These are future leaders of this nation and they need to be reached out when facing problems.