More than 40 students who were studying on government scholarship in Ethiopia are now stranded in Addis Ababa due to lack of transport money to return home.

The 46 students were sent to Ethiopia under the Eastern Equatoria State government scholarship.

They have finished their three-year courses and are now stranded in Addis Ababa without money to return home.

They were in Awasa University, but moved to Addis Ababa two weeks ago after graduation. They are now struggling to get a flight back to South Sudan.

“The issue is not that there is no money, we are trying our best to see to it that these students are brought immediately but the only problem we have is the issue of the dollars,” Kifita Odugo, state Minister for Education, told Eye Radio.

Mr Odugo says his ministry has sent a representative to Ethiopia as part of addressing the matter.

He told Eye Radio that the students are expected to be in South Sudan within the two days.