This morning, I received a deeply troubling letter from a South Sudanese student who has been admitted to Columbia University on a fully funded scholarship. He shared the distressing news that during his recent U.S. visa interview, he was placed under administrative processing. The reason? He was told that his country—South Sudan—is under certain travel restrictions.
“Despite fulfilling all the requirements to begin my studies this fall,” he wrote, “I was told that my country—South Sudan—is under certain travel restrictions. This has left me in a state of uncertainty.”
This young man is not alone. According to him, nearly 50 South Sudanese students have secured admission to some of the world’s top universities—including Harvard, Yale, and Columbia—many with full scholarships. However, due to these unexplained or poorly communicated restrictions, a significant number of them are now at risk of losing their offers.
“We are not political actors. We are young people with a vision for change, education, and nation-building,” he emphasized. “These travel restrictions are punishing innocent students who have only worked hard to represent our country positively on the global stage.”
These are students—not government officials, not combatants, not politicians. They are among the few who have overcome extraordinary odds to secure world-class educational opportunities. Denying them the ability to take up these offers is not only unjust; it is short-sighted and damaging to the future of South Sudan.
“If the situation persists,” he warns, “these students risk losing life-changing opportunities and scholarships that could shape the future of South Sudan.”
I urge the Transitional Government of South Sudan, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Higher Education, to immediately engage their counterparts in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Embassy in Juba. A direct explanation must be sought. If South Sudan is subject to any form of travel restrictions that are impacting innocent students, the government must step forward and protect their interests.
Likewise, I appeal to the U.S. government and its diplomatic mission in Juba to ensure that well-meaning, academically qualified, and law-abiding students are not made collateral victims of broader foreign policy or immigration measures. A nation’s youth should never be punished for the failures of its leaders.
“Your platform can bring needed attention to this crisis,” the student pleaded, “and possibly spark action from both our government and international partners.”
To the South Sudanese diaspora, educational institutions, journalists, and civil society: this is our responsibility too. If we remain silent as the door of opportunity is shut on our future leaders, we become complicit in their exclusion.
I stand firmly with these students. I will use my platform to amplify their voices and push for a resolution. Education is not a privilege for the few—it is a right that must be defended, especially for those who earn it under the most difficult of circumstances.
We cannot allow bureaucracy, neglect, or geopolitics to crush the dreams of our best and brightest.
The views in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Juba Witness. The author is Dr. Deng Bol Aruai Bol, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and South Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SSPLM/SSPLA). He can be reached at dengbolaruaibol@gmail.com.
