Diplomats serving at South Sudan’s Embassy in Egypt’s capital Cairo are reportedly gathering today to belatedly celebrate the country’s independence day, even as student protesters remain camped inside the embassy protesting their destitute situation.
Speaking on Wednesday, an annoyed South Sudanese citizen living in Egypt informed Radio Tamazuj that the embassy plans to celebrate at a luxury hotel in Cairo while the students are suffering.
Students participating in the month-long sit-in at the embassy have suffered shortages of food and drinking water.
“I was informed that the embassy will celebrate the day tomorrow according to the invitation issued out for VIPs only. For God’s sake this people are there for some weeks and they have nothing in their hands. Why not using that money for them?” she questioned.
“I thought that the money could be used to transfer those students who has no means of transport or air ticket back home rather celebrating with it. Of course, it is our independence but we got that independence to allow our young ones go to school,” she said.
Another Cairo resident and one of the student protest leaders, Kot Maker said, “The minister of education has failed… to respond to students demand. Therefore we will not allow the embassy premise to function properly until our allowances are full paid to us.”
Asked whether any of the student protesters had accepted to be repatriated to South Sudan he responded, “No, students have not accepted to go back due to lack of funds or money that why we have been camping in the embassy for almost month to claims back student funds.”
Separately, a letter seen by Radio Tamazuj addressed to Ambassador Anthony Louise Kon from Education Minister John Gai Yoh claims the government does not have enough money to meet the students’ demands.
The letter recommends that the students who cannot afford to stay in Cairo should end their studies and return home to South Sudan.
Related coverage:
South Sudan admits its Cairo embassy is overrun by protesters (15 July)
Student protesters still inside Cairo embassy (4 July)