About 5 hundred South Sudanese students studying at a university in Khartoum say they will be evicted from their hostels this week, unless the government in Juba pays their rent.

The Ministry of Higher Education has been paying for the four-story building since October last year, but students say the contract has not been renewed.

Eye Radio has visited the students in Khartoum, and they say their studies will be badly disrupted if they are evicted from their accommodation because they don’t have anywhere to go.

The students say water and electricity have already been cut off, because the bills have not been paid.

However, the Ambassador of South Sudan in Khartoum, Mayen Dut, says the Ministry of Education in South Sudan should respond to the concern raised by the students, not the embassy.

But he said the embassy is committed to pay the bills for electricity and water in the hostels.

One student has appealed to President Salva Kiir to intervene, to make sure they can finish their studies and come home to help their fellow citizens of South Sudan.

“We are here as foreigners and we are not being treated like other foreigners here,” said Kuot Michael. “The message to the President is that, rescue our lives.”

“If we complete our studies here, we are going to help the people of South Sudan.”

More than 8 thousand South Sudanese students are studying at a number of Sudanese Universities, including 400 medical students studying at Bahri University.