{"id":54852,"date":"2025-07-11T18:00:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/sudan-rwanda-direct-flight-marks-new-era-as-trade-soars-to-200m-annually\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T11:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T11:17:54","slug":"sudan-rwanda-direct-flight-marks-new-era-as-trade-soars-to-200m-annually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/sudan-rwanda-direct-flight-marks-new-era-as-trade-soars-to-200m-annually\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudan-Rwanda direct flight marks new era as trade soars to $200M annually"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Ambassador Musa announced that the new route, operated by Sudan\u2019s Badr Airline weekly, not only enhances connectivity but also coincides with a flourishing trade relationship now valued at $200 million annually. <\/p>\n

Amb. Musa emphasised that the private aviation company chose Rwanda as a hub for its expanding African operations, with plans to increase flight frequency based on demand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will start with one weekly flight. If the market picks up, they can consider adding more,\u201d he stated. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n

Currently, flights operate from Port Sudan, as Khartoum International Airport remains under repair due to war-related damage. The route includes a stopover in Juba, further connecting East African nations and facilitating the movement of people and goods.<\/p>\n

The connectivity is poised to bolster the $200 million annual trade between the two nations, a figure largely driven by Rwanda\u2019s tea and coffee exports. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n

In a strategic shift, Sudan has redirected its tea imports, valued at $2 million in just 45 days, directly to Rwandan producers, bypassing Kenya\u2019s Mombasa auction due to political tensions.<\/p>\n

\u201cSudanese companies are coming to Rwanda directly to buy,\u201d Amb. Musa noted.<\/p>\n

\"Amb.<\/figure>\n

{{A thriving Sudanese community in Rwanda
\n}}<\/p>\n

Beyond trade, the ambassador highlighted the vibrant Sudanese community in Rwanda, now numbering over 5,000, up from 4,000 previously. This growth is fueled by academic and economic opportunities, with Sudanese residents contributing over $10 million in investments, including small factories and agricultural ventures. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are two or three factories right now being built and will be operating very soon,\u201d Musa said, pointing to Sudanese companies engaging in infrastructure and export markets, particularly for Rwanda\u2019s tropical fruits and agricultural products, which are in high demand in Sudan.<\/p>\n

\"Beyond<\/figure>\n

Education is a cornerstone of this partnership, with Sudanese students comprising 20% of Rwanda\u2019s international student population. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey feel at home,\u201d Musa said, attributing this to Rwanda\u2019s safety, cultural similarities, and streamlined visa processes. <\/p>\n

According to the ambassador, 50% of the students are female, living independently, a reflection of Rwanda\u2019s secure and supportive environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no single Sudanese family that will allow their girl to travel to any destination unless they are confident that she is safe,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2019s open-door policies and Pan-African spirit, championed by President Paul Kagame, have made it a preferred destination for Sudanese students, especially as Sudan\u2019s own educational infrastructure recovers from war-related damage.<\/p>\n

{{Health and peacekeeping expanding cooperation
\n}}<\/p>\n

The interview revealed significant cooperation in health, with over 50 Sudanese doctors teaching and practising in Rwandan hospitals, including King Faisal and military facilities. <\/p>\n

Additionally, more than 100 Sudanese medical graduates are training in Rwanda, with a 100% pass rate in recent medical exams, positioning Rwanda as a hub for medical internships. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a good model because we have more medical graduates coming to Rwanda for internship,\u201d Amb. Musa said, noting Sudan\u2019s annual output of 3,000 medical students before the war.<\/p>\n

\"Sudan<\/figure>\n

Looking ahead, Sudan aims to leverage Rwanda\u2019s renowned peacekeeping expertise. <\/p>\n

\u201cImmediately after we stop the war, one of the main areas of cooperation will be training some army units for peacekeeping in Rwanda,\u201d the ambassador remarked, praising Rwanda\u2019s reputation as the second-largest contributor of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions and its role in promoting regional stability.<\/p>\n

This aligns with plans for a forthcoming memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will formalise cooperation in seven areas, including national reconciliation, social cohesion, and constitutional building, drawing on Rwanda\u2019s post-genocide recovery model.<\/p>\n

{{Sudan\u2019s path to peace and reconstruction
\n}}<\/p>\n

Addressing the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Amb. Musa said that currently the Sudanese army controls over 75% of the country, with pockets of resistance remaining in Kordofan and Darfur. <\/p>\n

He described the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a \u201cmilitia project\u201d lacking public support, responsible for damages estimated at over $300 billion. <\/p>\n

Despite the war, Musa emphasised resilience, stating, \u201cLife should not stop. Even during the war, life should not stop.\u201d <\/p>\n

The government, led by a new prime minister and a \u201cgovernment of hope,\u201d is focused on a transitional program prioritising stability, peace, and democratic elections.<\/p>\n

To end the conflict, Sudan has offered amnesty to RSF fighters who lay down their arms, with Musa noting, \u201cEverybody at the RSF side will come peacefully to join the Sudanese effort for peace and reconciliation. He is welcome.\u201d <\/p>\n

However, justice for perpetrators will be pursued through a judicial system, inspired by Rwanda\u2019s post-1994 approach to avoiding revenge and ensuring legal accountability. <\/p>\n

The envoy called for neighbouring countries like Kenya and regional actors, including the Emirates, to cease supporting the RSF, urging international and African Union intervention to secure sustainable peace.<\/p>\n

Amb. Musa sees Rwanda as a beacon for Sudan\u2019s post-conflict recovery, citing four key lessons: accountable leadership, a clear vision, effective legal mechanisms, and citizen responsibility. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe should not outsource our problem,\u201d he said, quoting President Kagame\u2019s emphasis on homegrown solutions. <\/p>\n

Sudan aims to emulate Rwanda\u2019s success in social cohesion and national reconciliation, with delegations, including the Sudanese Minister of Justice, already engaging with Rwandan counterparts to learn from their experience.<\/p>\n

Watch the ambassador\u2019s previous interview below to learn more about the ongoing civil war in Sudan.<\/p>\n