WAU, SOUTH SUDAN – In a powerful display of commitment, members of the University of Bahr el Ghazel (UBG) community were seen this week taking campus maintenance into their own hands, clearing overgrown grass and brush from the university grounds.
The grassroots cleanup effort, captured in photos showing individuals armed with slashers and shovels, comes at a time of profound crisis for the institution. The Academic Staff Association and Workers Trade Union at UBG have declared an indefinite strike, demanding the clearance of 11-month salary arrears from the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The strike, which was confirmed by University Staff Association chairperson Joseph Lual Dario, has brought all academic and administrative functions to a halt. Staff have vowed to “lay down their tools” until their demands are met, placing the academic year in severe jeopardy.
This is the latest in a series of major disruptions for the university. Earlier in the year, a strike in May led to a prolonged closure. The administration attempted a phased reopening in August, limited to only first-year and final-year students, in a “tactical step” to manage the situation. That reopening was also tied to a new, controversial tuition fee structure requiring students to pay at least 50% upfront.
The current strike, however, appears more critical, with 11 months of unpaid salaries at its core.
As the administrative standoff continues, the images of the campus cleanup resonate deeply. They paint a picture of a community caught in the middle—students and staff who hold a deep pride in their institution and are unwilling to let it fall into physical disrepair, even as they fight for their livelihoods.
The act of clearing the weeds, symbolic or not, underscores a desire for normalcy and function. As the strike continues with no clear resolution in sight, the future of the semester at the University of Bahr el Ghazel rests on resolving the financial crisis that has plagued its dedicated staff for nearly a year.
