Boniface Rutikanga, Spokesperson of Rwanda National Police. Photo Credit: RNP

The Spokesperson of Rwanda National Police has called for calm after some Rwandan nationals took to social media to demand the immediate deportation of South Sudanese individuals over alleged incidents of public disorder and violence.

Unverified rumors about alleged South Sudanese youth fighting and causing havoc in Kigali swirled social media over the past few days, prompting some Rwandans to engage in hate campaigns.

Boniface Rutikanga said the incident was exaggerated out of proportion by social media users and does not reflect the reality of the situation.

In an interview with Eye Radio from Kigali on Tuesday, Boniface assured South Sudanese in Rwanda not to worry about the negative campaign on social media.

“People should not be worried about what is going over the social media but should learn to understand that the fact not always comes from the social media,” he said.

“So, they should be calm, no problem this is the assurance I can give you. And I think if there is something problematic, maybe we should have noted from the beginning probably.”

“Believe me everything is fine. It is nothing like it looks like over the social media. South Sudanese brothers and sisters should not worry, no problem at all.”

The Rwanda police official further said they are going to embark on regular engagement with foreign communities, local leaders, and school administrations through their community policing to encourage coexistence.

Without taking about the particular incident, Boniface clarified that it was isolated and there are no recorded reports of incidents where South Sudanese targeted Rwandans or vice versa.

“What happened was just a case that could happened to any another community. It is normal. It could happen between Rwandans among themselves or could have happened between one community and another.”

“So there is nothing special that would be called that South Sudanese were targeting Rwandans or certain foreign group targeting Rwandans. There were no premeditation of doing that, so let me just assure people that there is nothing problematic.”

Meanwhile, the President of South Sudanese Students’ Association in Rwanda told Eye Radio that South Sudanese youth did not fight any Rwandan nationals but were mistaken for having taken part in a fight.

Saleh Mohammed Adam stated that the matter has been resolved and was allegedly associated to misinformation and misidentification.

“The incident happened on 27th December, so we actually have seen the footage, and I told them clearly when we tried to view the footage and so on, and in the actual truth we found out these people who fought Rwandans, these people are not South Sudanese,” Adam said.

“Recently before I talk to you, I have called one of the police who was in the investigation process of this incident, he told me I was right. They said the issue has been already been solved so it was just misinformation and misidentification.”

It is not clear how many South Sudanese are currently residing or studying in Rwanda.

The incident emerged days after the Spokesperson of South Sudan National Police Service said they had received 10 South Sudanese nationals deported from Egypt.