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Students from Sierra Leone studying in the Russian Federation say they are facing severe hardship as government stipends for the 2024/2025 academic year remain unpaid.
The students say the delay has left many of them stranded, just weeks before the new academic year begins.
The National Union of Sierra Leone Students in the Russian Federation (NUSS RF) says the unpaid stipends cover the period from September 2024 to June 2025.
The 2025/2026 academic year is set to begin in less than two weeks, but students say they are still waiting for financial support from the Government of Sierra Leone. The funds are meant to help cover hostel fees, visa renewals, medical insurance, food, utilities and other daily expenses.
Sending money from Sierra Leone has also become difficult due to international sanctions placed on Russia. Many students are unable to receive financial support from their families back home.
Sierra Leone has sent students to Russia for many years under government sponsorship. These students rely on annual stipends to meet their living costs while they study.
Sierra Leonean students are currently based in several Russian cities including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and others. Many of them are now concerned about being unable to renew their documents, register for the next semester or even access basic needs.
The student union says they have exhausted all avenues of diplomacy and dialogue in their attempts to resolve the issue. With no clear response, they are now calling directly on the Government of Sierra Leone to urgently pay all outstanding stipends for the 2024/2025 academic year and to ensure the 2025/2026 stipends are disbursed before school resumes.
They are also appealing to civil society organizations, humanitarian bodies, students’ advocacy groups and media outlets to raise awareness of what they describe as a humanitarian crisis. In their press release dated August 18, 2025, the union stated:
“If no action is taken, we will be forced to take further steps including a peaceful protest to ensure our voices are heard and our stipends are paid.”
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education or the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Moscow. The students say they will continue to speak out until the matter is addressed.
