Arrest of 40 Students from Ruweng Administrative Area Following Protest in Juba

By: Athom Garang

Around 40 students from the Ruweng Administrative Area were arrested on Friday after staging a protest in front of the headquarters of GPOC (Greater Pioneer Operating Company) in Juba. The students were demonstrating against the company’s alleged failure to pay tuition fees promised under its scholarship program.

The scholarship initiative, which GPOC promotes as part of its corporate social responsibility in oil-producing regions, supports students from Ruweng pursuing higher education at institutions such as the University of Juba and Stanford University. Protesters claimed that the delay in disbursing the funds has left them in a dire situation just days before their exams.

A student source confirmed the arrests to local media. However, as of the time of publication, no official statement had been issued by the police regarding the incident.