The President of South Sudan orders the establishment of three new public universities.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah: 

Salva Kiir issued MayarditThe President of South Sudan has issued presidential directives to establish three new public universities, in a move aimed at expanding higher education opportunities and supporting development paths in the country.

According to a presidential decree broadcast by the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Friday evening, it was decided to change the name of the University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to «Aweil University», in addition to upgrading Kuajok Community College to become «Kuajok University» as a fully integrated government university.

A government plan to boost the spread of education in South Sudan

The decision also included the establishment of «Yi University» in Yei County, Central Equatoria State, as part of a government plan to promote the spread of higher education institutions in various regions.

President Kiir directed both the Higher Education Council and the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to quickly complete the necessary legal and administrative procedures for the establishment of the new universities, including institutional structures, accreditation systems, employment and governance.

Providing the necessary financial allocations

In the same context, he issued directives to the Ministry of Finance and Planning to provide the required financial credits to begin construction and equipping work immediately.

The move comes as one of the government’s most prominent investments in the higher education sector, as the new universities are expected to contribute to improving the quality of education, expanding access to it, as well as supporting regional development and enhancing human capacity building in the country.

In another context, the President of the Republic of South Sudan and Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Lieutenant General Salva Kiir Mayardit, directed the movement’s leaders in the states and administrative regions to intensify efforts aimed at strengthening peace, consolidating security and creating a favorable environment for holding the general elections scheduled for December 2026.

The president’s directives came on Friday during a meeting he held with the heads of the popular movement in the states and administrative regions, in the presence of the movement’s secretary-general, Dr. Akol Paul Kordit.

President Salva Kiir called on party leaders to work closely with local communities to maintain peace and promote national unity, and to support local authorities in providing a safe environment that ensures all citizens can participate freely and safely in the electoral process, thus contributing to the organization of peaceful and credible elections.

He stressed that consolidating stability and peace is a fundamental pillar for the success of the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of the movement’s leaders playing their role in strengthening social cohesion and supporting the state’s efforts during the next stage.