The Pan-African Motion (PAM) Rwanda Chapter is strengthening its engagement with the Sudanese group in Rwanda as a part of broader efforts to advertise Pan-Africanism and put together younger Africans to champion unity throughout the continent.
The initiative was introduced throughout a dialogue held on Saturday, July 11, bringing collectively Sudan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, members of the Sudanese group, Sudanese college students and officers from PAM Rwanda to debate African unity, youth management and future collaboration.
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Ambassador Zaina Nyiramatama, Commissioner for International Affairs at PAM Rwanda, stated the organisation is increasing its outreach by working extra intently with African diaspora communities and ambassadors accredited to Rwanda.
“We’re going to begin working intently with members of the diaspora and ambassadors serving on this nation. In 2025, we collectively organised an occasion with them, and that is one other of the actions we’re finishing up to proceed strengthening African unity,” she stated.
She stated Rwanda gives a singular setting for selling continental integration as a result of it hosts diplomats and college students from throughout Africa.
“Right here in Rwanda, we’ve got greater than 20 ambassadors representing their respective international locations. That additionally means we’ve got residents of these international locations residing right here. We’ve many college students and numerous younger individuals from African international locations, greater than 15,000 in complete, together with round 4,000 from Sudan,” she stated.
Based on Nyiramatama, the most recent engagement adopted discussions inside the Pan-African Motion on the way to contain extra younger Africans in advancing the beliefs of Pan-Africanism.
“We requested ourselves what extra we may do. We organised this dialogue to debate our understanding of African unity and the function that every particular person has to play, particularly younger individuals and the leaders of tomorrow, whereas recognising the contribution they will already make immediately by way of their concepts.”
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One of many key outcomes of the dialogue, she stated, was the choice to combine members of the Sudanese group into PAM Rwanda’s ongoing youth programmes.
“They expressed curiosity in becoming a member of the actions we’ve got already been finishing up with Rwandan youth in numerous universities. We’ve now introduced them collectively in order that we will work aspect by aspect, prepare collectively and take part in all these programmes collectively. Our goal is African unity.”
Nyiramatama stated Rwanda’s personal historical past demonstrates the significance of unity in reaching nationwide improvement, classes she believes can profit younger Africans finding out within the nation earlier than they return house.
“Anybody who needs to construct African unity ought to start with the youth. If we work collectively, sharing experiences whereas displaying them how unity types the inspiration of improvement, they are going to return to their international locations dedicated to selling unity there so that each one Africans can profit.”
Sudan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Khalid Musa, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a chance for Sudanese college students to study from Rwanda’s expertise whereas strengthening ties between the 2 international locations.
“We’ve greater than 4,000 Sudanese college students right here finding out in Rwanda, and this can be a nice worth for our bilateral relations,” he stated.
“I would really like our younger individuals to hitch this partnership, study from Rwanda and embrace the values of the Pan-African Motion. They’re future leaders, and once they full their research they are going to turn out to be a cultural bridge between Sudan and Rwanda.”
The ambassador additionally inspired the scholars to attract classes from Rwanda’s expertise in reconciliation, patriotism and home-grown options, saying such values may contribute to rebuilding stronger communities throughout Africa.
College students who attended the dialogue stated it provided a brand new perspective on Pan-Africanism and their function in advancing it.
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Ghufran Osama, a Sudanese scholar in Rwanda, stated she left the discussions with a stronger appreciation of the necessity for Africans to work collectively.
“The primary factor that I’m going to take again house is the sense of unity and the fervour to see Africa as one unit shifting ahead as a result of I imagine all of us help one another, and that help is what can transfer us ahead,” she stated.
She added that the discussions deepened her understanding of the motion.
“It gave me a deeper thought and a deeper view of the entire idea of Pan-Africanism. I discovered many concepts and data that I actually didn’t know earlier than.”
Mohamed Smair, a Sudanese graduate who has lived in Rwanda for practically 4 years, stated the initiative may encourage younger Sudanese to organise across the beliefs of Pan-Africanism.
Having lived in Rwanda for a number of years, he stated he believes the nation’s openness in direction of different African nationals gives an instance of continental integration in observe.
“The Rwandan individuals and the federal government are welcoming to different nations. It helps Africans unite. Permitting Africans to enter with no visa is among the steps in direction of African unity, and I hope different international locations can observe that instance.”
William Nkurunziza, PAM Rwanda’s Commissioner for Media and Tradition, stated the motion seeks to advertise a way of shared identification amongst Africans no matter nationality.
