His remarks come amid heightened public attention over misconduct involving students from the larger Sudanese community. While the majority of the recent cases have involved South Sudanese students, including criminal prosecutions and deportations, Sudanese students have also been implicated in some incidents, prompting the Sudanese Embassy to step up engagement with its community.
Speaking to IGIHE on the sidelines of Umuganda in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District, where more than 150 members of the Sudanese community joined local residents for Rwanda's monthly community service, the ambassador said the embassy was taking the reported incidents seriously and had intensified outreach to students across the country.
'We are aware, and we are following the matter,' the ambassador said when asked about recent reports of violence involving Sudanese students.
'When you have 4,000 students, and there are five or six cases, the proportion is not alarming. But we are concerned about any kind of violence. We encourage and teach our community to abide by the law, respect local law enforcement, and respect the rules.'
The ambassador said the Sudanese community in Rwanda comprises about 5,000 people, around 4,000 of whom are students enrolled in six universities across the country.
He emphasised that the 'isolated' incidents should not be viewed as representative of the wider Sudanese community, noting that most Sudanese nationals in Rwanda are contributing to the country's development through business and investment. The envoy said the community has invested more than $25 million in sectors including real estate, education, agriculture, and oil and gas, underscoring its positive contribution to the country's economy.
'We are visiting our students on campuses, meeting with vice chancellors of the universities, and working with our student association to provide guidance, instruction, education, and training on respecting the law and cooperating with local law enforcement,' he remarked.
'These are absolutely isolated cases. They do not reflect the true values and ethics of the Sudanese community. We are taking care of it and are confident it will not be repeated.'
The ambassador also appealed directly to Sudanese nationals living in Rwanda to show their appreciation for the opportunities they have been given by respecting the country's laws, particularly at a time when the war in Sudan has displaced many people and forced them to seek refuge abroad.
'Rwanda, under the leadership of His Excellency President Paul Kagame, opened its doors for all Africans, including Sudanese. We are here to learn through education and from the community,' he said.
'My message to my fellow citizens and students is that we should pay back to the community by respecting the law, abiding by the law, cooperating with law enforcement agencies, and reflecting the best values of Sudanese culture while here.'
He encouraged students to take the positive lessons they acquire in Rwanda back to Sudan after completing their studies.
Among the recent cases attracting public attention is that of a South Sudanese student accused of assaulting a university lecturer following a dispute over examination marks. Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence, while the court is expected to deliver its verdict on July 31. Rwanda also deported eight South Sudanese students from INES Ruhengeri after they were accused of offences including theft, assaulting motorcycle taxi operators, intimidating residents and carrying bladed weapons.
Ahmed Soufiane Abdalla, a second-year data science student at Kigali Independent University, apologised to Rwandans over the recent incidents involving members of the Sudanese community.
'We sincerely apologise to the Rwandan people and the Rwandan government for what has been happening recently,' he said.
He attributed some of the challenges facing Sudanese students to the psychological effects of the ongoing war in Sudan and inadequate awareness of Rwandan laws among newly arrived students. He suggested that universities, student associations and the embassy provide legal orientation to students during their first days in Rwanda to help prevent future incidents.
During the Umuganda event, the ambassador said participation by the Sudanese community was intended to strengthen ties with Rwandans, learn from the country's homegrown development initiatives and reaffirm that Sudanese nationals are committed to making a positive contribution to their host country.
'We are not aliens. We are African brothers and sisters. We are here to participate, to contribute positively, and to learn from Rwanda's good practices,' he stated.
