The Government of Khartoum has declined to issue passports to South Sudan senior secondary students who were invited to take part in a basketball tournament in the United States of America.
Eastern Equatoria education minister Michael Lopuke Lotyam told Radio Emmanuel that he was to travel with secondary school basketball team to the United States but Khartoum first delayed and then refused to issue the players with Sudanese passports.The students were all under 18 years of age.
Mr. Lopuke said GoSS minister for Education had assigned him to represent the government of South Sudan and lead a basketball team to Ohio’s tournament.
The tournament started on June 30.
Mr. Lopuke said he hopes to lead a successful trip with the same basketball team in August to the USA.