SOUTH SUDAN: Academic Staff Call for Removal Of Rumbek University Administrators

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

In a bold move, the academic staff association at Rumbek University of Science and Technology has urged President Salva Kiir to remove the university’s top three administrators, citing severe mismanagement of staff and public funds.

In a letter addressed to President Kiir, who serves as the university’s Chancellor, the staff expressed their deep concerns, particularly following the recent expulsions and suspensions of several association members.

Gor Mathiang Kau, the association’s secretary general, highlighted the troubling situation at the university, claiming a pattern of power abuse and mismanagement under the administration. Kau asserted that the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance has been effectively treating the university as a personal enterprise, fostering division among staff and inciting harassment of academic personnel by non academic employees.

Kau criticized the Vice Chancellor for his indecisiveness, stating, “Rumbek University of Science and Technology is on the brink of chaos and dysfunction.” He emphasized the urgent need for intervention from the Chancellor and the President to restore order and stability to the institution.

The letter outlined several reasons for the call for action, including the perceived incompetence of the three administrators, allegations of improper management, denial of accommodations to staff, and withheld entitlements. Kau specifically mentioned the unlawful expulsion of two staff members from their residences.

Furthermore, he alleged that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration & Finance) has subjected academic staff to harassment and contempt, even referring to them derogatorily as “picked from the street.”

Kau also raised concerns about delayed salary payments linked to the Ivory Bank and highlighted discrepancies in financial management, claiming funds meant for a construction project initiated by the previous Vice Chancellor had gone missing. He referenced an official resolution indicating an agreement to allocate SSP50,000,000 towards the project, which has stalled.

Additionally, he accused the administration of favoritism in the distribution of medical loans, alleging that only relatives and associates of the top officials were considered.

Lecturer Clement Thon echoed the association’s concerns, citing unwarranted disciplinary actions against academic staff, including expulsions and salary suspensions imposed without a proper investigative process.

Joseph Muong, the head of the Geography and History Department, shared his experience of being verbally attacked by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor based on inaccurate information. He claimed that on the same day, he received notice of his expulsion from university housing.

The call for action from the academic staff at Rumbek University reflects growing frustration over administrative misconduct and highlights the urgent need for reform to ensure the institution’s integrity and academic environment.