DRC – Rwanda : Congolese and Rwandan students testify to the complementarity in education between both countries despite their disagreement

Tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda arose in 2022 when strong disagreements broke out between these two states in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Nevertheless, these two countries continued to carry out trade and free movement of young people who go to different universities on both sides of the borders. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Apart from trade between the city of Goma in the DRC and Gisenyi in Rwanda, many young Congolese leave the city of Goma and take courses in Gisenyi.

Young Rwandans do the same.

For Congolese students heading to the neighboring country, Rwanda has an education system consistent with that of most East African countries to which the Congolese are trying to adapt.

“I am crossing the ‘Great Barrier’ for lecture reasons. I am studying at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Gisenyi. Several reasons pushed me to continue my university studies in Rwanda. The education system in Rwanda is very different from that of the DRC. In their country, students do much more practical work, which is different from ours where we are bombarded with too much theory but little practice. For example, every Tuesday and Thursday we go into the field to combine theory with practice and this often helps us when we are hired in companies throughout the country. The Rwandan system favors practice and for me as a young Congolese, I am delighted to take courses in Rwanda and return to work in Congo right after my classes,” says James Kisando.

Young people said that when they attend classes, they are very far from the politics of their country, or even Rwanda.

For them, life in Rwanda in the student’s environment is a good adventure especially since they are not discriminated against.

According to them, despite the bad history of the genocide that hit Rwanda in 1994, the place of studies is not confused with politics.

Amani Tuungane, a second-year undergraduate student at the Free University of Kigali, Rubavu sub-section in the Western Province of Rwanda, whom we interviewed on this subject, pointed out that academic spaces are only reserved for pacification, science and learning and not for the politics of discrimination.

“We study properly as if we were in our own country. Besides, for me, in Rwanda, we are better than in Goma because all conditions are very well met. Since I have been studying in Gisenyi, I have never heard a teacher or a student talk about politics between both countries. When we are in the lecture room, it is only studies, and the stories of Rwanda do not affect us especially since we came to learn, according to our courses and orientations. As I do international relations, these stories of tribalism do not affect me because I am often concerned with conflict resolution in the community, either in the DRC, even in Rwanda,” he says.

From Gisenyi to Goma

Several young Rwandan students are taking the opposite path. They chose the University of Goma -UNIGOM, considered a leading university in the area, following its training that these young people consider excellent.

A large number of these Rwandans are studying medicine for several reasons.

“I want to be a great doctor and acquire several skills in medicine and all its related sciences, including mainly internal medicine. In our country in Rwanda, this faculty is the most sought after by many young people, but the systems are not in place to support young students. First, here at the University of Goma, most of the teachers are foreigners or even Rwandans who come to teach here in Goma. I appreciate the way things are done in Congolese institutions because they are looking for ways to diversify experiences from other countries. For example, the dietetics course that we are studying now is taught by a German,” says a young Rwandan studying in the capital of North Kivu.

For others, studying in Goma is for the atmosphere in which it takes place.

“I like the atmosphere that can be observed in our lecture rooms. You know, the Congolese love jokes too much. It puts us at ease, those of us who were not born in Congo. I tell myself that I have a lot to learn from young Congolese people, especially modesty and generosity,” admits Adrielle Mukangamije, a student at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Goma.

Nevertheless, sometimes, Congolese people attack Rwandophones who are walking around the city of Goma.

Fortunately, Rwandan students who go to the University of Goma say they are beginning to master Swahili and Lingala very well, two languages ​​often spoken in the streets of the city of Goma.

In the lecture rooms, it is difficult to differentiate a student of Congolese origin from one of Rwandan origin.

Listening to them in their discussions, Lingala and Swahili are spoken more by these young Rwandans.

Among themselves, they speak Kinyarwanda, their mother tongue, because according to them, their fellow Congolese students respect them.

“Our fellow students have finally understood that the fact that we are not Congolese does not explain that we are really enemies. It is a good practice because we have learned their languages ​​and they themselves are beginning to speak ours. Along the way, I think it is very difficult for another person to differentiate us. I speak a little Lingala,” rejoices young student Mukangamije.

For several decades, young Congolese have been attacking Rwandans, calling them elements harmful to the security of the Congolese.

But today, politics no longer divides these young people from troubled countries.

The city of Goma has recorded several series of anti-Rwanda demonstrations, the latter being accused of providing significant support to the M23 rebellion since the resurgence of the former Tutsi rebellion at the end of 2021. Rwanda has always dismissed these allegations out of hand, calling them “lies”.