Turkey Sends 45 South Sudanese Students to Pursue Higher Education
By Kidega Livingstone
JUBA – At least 45 South Sudanese students will depart for Turkey on Saturday, 4th October, to pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees at various universities across the country, courtesy of scholarships awarded by the Government of Türkiye.
The students were briefed on Thursday at the Turkish Embassy in Juba ahead of their departure. The scholarships cover a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, political science, pharmacy, and civil engineering.
Speaking during the briefing, the Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Metin Ergin, said this year’s number of recipients has nearly doubled compared to previous years—an indication of Türkiye’s growing commitment to support South Sudan’s education sector.
“This is a continuous program that we implement every year. It’s a message to both parents and students that they should apply early for Türkiye Scholarships,” Ambassador Ergin said.
He expressed confidence in the selected students, saying he believes they will perform well and contribute meaningfully to bridging the generational gap in South Sudan’s educational development.
Duol Ruach Guok, who is heading to Turkey to pursue a PhD in Political Science, described the scholarship as a gift.
“We are going not only to study but also to learn about the culture of the Turkish people. We are very grateful for this opportunity,” he said.
Alek Elijah Manyok Ayiei, another awardee, will study Pharmacy. She said she was excited to begin her academic journey and pledged to use the opportunity to contribute to the development of her country.
“I’m very thankful for this scholarship, and I will do my best to succeed so I can help build a better South Sudan,” she said.
Daniel Biar Thon Atem, also among the departing students, encouraged his fellow scholars to remain focused and embrace the Turkish culture during their stay.
Ten Years of Educational Partnership
Türkiye has been offering fully funded scholarships to South Sudanese students for over a decade. The support includes tuition fees, airfare, accommodation, health insurance, and monthly stipends.
Over the past ten years, more than 200 South Sudanese students have benefited from the Türkiye Scholarships at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels.
In recent years, Turkey has offered between 20 to 30 scholarships annually to South Sudanese students, with fields of study ranging from economics and engineering to medicine and political science.
The scholarship initiative is part of broader bilateral cooperation between Turkey and South Sudan, aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and fostering long-term development through education.
