• The Ministry of ICT and Postal Services, in partnership with MTN South Sudan, has launched a new ICT Hub in Bor Town to train and connect youth in Greater Jonglei.
• MTN also announced a partnership with Coursera.org to offer free online courses and certifications, expanding nationwide access to digital education.
• The initiative targets South Sudan’s low internet penetration (15.7% as of 2025) and builds on other projects, such as MTN’s Tech Hub in Mangateen IDP Camp and the UNDP-backed E-commerce Hub in Juba.

On November 4, the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services launched an ICT Hub in Bor Town, Jonglei State, to empower the region’s youth. The initiative, financed by MTN South Sudan, will offer training programs and internet services to local young people in Greater Jonglei.

At the launch event, the Telecommunication Under-Secretary, speaking on behalf of the National Minister, confirmed that the hub is expected to bring economic and social change to the district. The ministry emphasized its commitment to expanding digital access and skills in the region. MTN’s CEO announced a partnership with Coursera.org to provide free online courses and certification for South Sudanese learners, marking a step toward scaling digital skills beyond traditional classroom settings.

South Sudan’s digital inclusion remains among the lowest in Africa, with internet penetration still below 20 percent—estimated at 15.7 percent as of early 2025 by DataReportal. Limited rural coverage and a predominantly young population further widen the digital divide. Therefore, the newly launched ICT Hub in Bor represents a strategic effort to close this inclusion gap by expanding access to technology, training, and connectivity for youth across Greater Jonglei.

The Bor project joins a growing ecosystem of digital empowerment initiatives across the country. MTN previously launched a Tech Hub in the Mangateen IDP Camp near Juba, providing computers, internet access, and digital skills training for displaced communities. Additionally, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, an E-commerce Hub was launched in Juba in 2022 to support youth and women-led MSMEs with online business training.

Hikmatu Bilali