The presidential directive, dated July 17, 2026, sets out an executive state policy for the establishment, incorporation, redesignation and statutory operationalization of the three institutions in Central Equatoria, Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states.
According to the directive, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) have been instructed to “immediately initiate the statutory transition, approval, and accreditation” processes in line with the Higher Education Act, 2012.
For Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Kiir ordered the redesignation and renaming of the existing University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to the University of Aweil.
The directive states that the NCHE, through the Ministry of Higher Education, should “immediately initiate, evaluate, and formally approve the statutory redesignation, renaming, and transition” of the institution. It further provides that “all properties, land parcels, assets, liabilities, and existing personnel of the former University of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal shall be transferred, vested in, and assumed by the University of Aweil” once statutory approval and accreditation are completed.
In Warrap State, the President directed the statutory establishment of the University of Kuajok, with all assets, facilities, personnel records and land currently used by Kuajok Community College to be transferred to the new university following formal approval.
Similarly, the directive orders the establishment of the University of Yei in Central Equatoria State. Administrative rights, properties and facilities designated by the state or local government for the university in Yei Town will be transferred to the institution after accreditation.
The directive also outlines governance arrangements for the three universities. Kiir, who serves as Chancellor of South Sudan’s public universities, will remain Chancellor of the new institutions.
The Minister of Higher Education has been instructed to appoint interim administrative leadership, prepare institutional charters and oversee the submission of academic curricula and transitional frameworks to the NCHE for accreditation.
According to the directive, the universities will focus on providing quality higher education, scientific research and community outreach while placing particular emphasis on agricultural technology, crop production, mechanization, forestry, science and technology, and environmental resource management.
To facilitate their launch, the President ordered the Ministry of Finance and Planning to allocate take-off grants and recurrent operational funding through the national budget.
State governments in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Central Equatoria have also been directed to provide administrative support, security and land for the rapid development of the universities’ campuses.
The latest directive forms part of the government’s efforts to expand access to higher education and strengthen public university infrastructure across South Sudan. However, the success of the initiative is expected to depend on the timely completion of statutory accreditation processes and the availability of funding for the new institutions.
