On a busy street in Gisimenti, Remera, the smell of freshly cooked food drifts out of a modest restaurant run by a man whose journey to this place has been anything but ordinary. For Nidhal Mudharahadiya Mohammed Khalifa, a Sudanese refugee now living in Rwanda, the restaurant is more than a business. It is a symbol of survival, resilience, and a quiet commitment to helping others who, like him, were forced to leave everything behind. Khalifa arrived in Rwanda after fleeing the violence and instability that engulfed Sudan in recent years. Today, he is rebuilding his life in Kigali with his wife and seven children, while also supporting fellow refugees who arrive with little more than hope. “I have a big family,” he says. “We are nine people — myself, my wife, and our seven children. Everything I do now is for them.” A life interrupted by war Before conflict reshaped his life, Khalifa was pursuing a professional path in medicine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science and had built a career in Sudan’s healthcare sector. ALSO READ: New report: 99 percent refugees in Rwanda are financially included When violence escalated in the country, communities were uprooted and thousands were forced to flee their homes. In September 2023, Khalifa began helping displaced families who had escaped from war-affected areas such as Khartoum and other cities. Many of those fleeing the fighting ended up in temporary camps or crowded into schools and other public buildings. The humanitarian situation was dire. Members of the Sudanese diaspora began reaching out to Khalifa for help. Some were living abroad, including in the United States, and they wanted someone on the ground who could distribute assistance to people in need. “They started sending small amounts of money,” Khalifa recalls. “With that money, I bought blankets and cooked ready food for the people staying in the camps.” At first, the support was small, but the effort grew quickly. Khalifa began coordinating the purchase of essential supplies and distributing meals to displaced families. The initiative eventually reached several regions across Sudan. WATCH VIDEO: Sudanese refugees on finding life in Rwanda, exploring business opportunities For Khalifa, it was simply a matter of responsibility. “When people are suffering, you try to do what you can,” he says. But the humanitarian work also brought risks. A growing threat By late 2023, Khalifa began noticing signs that he was being watched. People started asking questions about him — about his work, his family, and his background. At first, he dismissed it as routine curiosity. But the inquiries grew more frequent and more pointed. “Someone came asking about my father, my other name, and my job,” he recalls. “They were investigating me.” Gradually, the situation became more alarming. Khalifa began receiving information that some individuals were actively looking for him. “They wanted to harm me,” he says. “I was told they were planning to shoot me.” By February, the pressure had taken its toll. Khalifa was barely sleeping. Anxiety consumed him. “I lost my appetite. I could not sleep well,” he remembers. “I was always thinking about my family and what could happen.” ALSO READ: ‘It’s a country of peace’: How 21-year-old South Sudanese fell in love with Rwanda Eventually, he realised that staying in Sudan could cost him his life. “I knew that if I stayed, I might die,” he says. “So I had to leave.” A difficult escape Leaving Sudan was not a simple decision, nor an easy journey. Like many refugees fleeing conflict zones, Khalifa’s family had to navigate a complicated and uncertain path to safety. His wife and children travelled ahead of him through a refugee route, while he remained behind temporarily. For months, they were separated. Eventually Khalifa was able to follow, undertaking his own difficult journey out of Sudan. When he finally reached the border where his family was waiting, the reunion was emotional. “I waited there for several days,” he says. “When I saw my wife and children again, it was a very powerful moment.” Together, the family continued their journey and eventually arrived in Rwanda, a country that, in recent years, has become a place of refuge for many people fleeing instability across Africa. Starting over in Rwanda Arriving in a new country meant starting again from nothing. “The first challenge was the language,” Khalifa says. While Rwanda’s official languages include English, French, and Kinyarwanda, the linguistic environment was unfamiliar for a family coming from Sudan. ALSO READ: Refugee welfare: Eight things Rwanda has done to improve their lives But language was only part of the challenge. Khalifa also had to find a way to support a family of nine. “When you arrive as a refugee, everything you had before is gone,” he explains. “You must start again.” Khalifa began by taking whatever work he could find. Eventually he secured a job helping in a restaurant kitchen. He worked as a chef, earning about $170 per month — a modest income but an important first step toward stability. “I did that job for about nine months,” he says. During that time, he observed how the business operated and began imagining how he might build something of his own. Building a new beginning Despite his medical background, Khalifa realised that entrepreneurship might offer a faster path to financial stability. “Finding a job can be difficult when you arrive in a new country,” he explains. “So instead of waiting, I decided to start something myself.” That decision led him to open his own restaurant in Kigali. Today, Alhawath Restaurant has become a small but vibrant gathering place for locals, visitors, and members of the refugee community. ALSO READ: Over 40 Burundian refugee families head home from Rwanda For Khalifa, the restaurant represents more than income. “This place is not only for me and my family,” he says. “It is also for the community.” Supporting fellow refugees Many refugees arriving in Kigali face the same uncertainty Khalifa once experienced — unfamiliar surroundings, limited resources, and the challenge of rebuilding a life. Khalifa tries to help where he can. “Sometimes refugees come here with nothing,” he says. “If someone needs food, I give them food. Sometimes I help them with a little money.” In some cases, he even helps newcomers find temporary housing. “Helping others makes me happy,” he says simply. Beyond individual acts of support, Khalifa occasionally organises food distributions for people in need. He prepares food baskets, sometimes up to 100 or 150 at a time which are shared with vulnerable members of the community. The effort is not entirely his own. Friends and supporters occasionally contribute resources to help expand the assistance. Finding a place to belong Despite the challenges of starting over, Khalifa says Rwanda has offered him something deeply valuable: stability. “The people here are welcoming,” he says. “Many customers come to the restaurant and they enjoy the food and the atmosphere.” For a family that escaped violence and uncertainty, the sense of peace is significant. “I love Rwanda,” Khalifa says. “It is a good country with good leadership and supportive people.” His children are gradually adapting to life in their new home, attending school and learning new languages. ALSO READ: Over 160 African asylum seekers arrive in Rwanda “They are trying to improve their English and continue their education,” he says. What the future holds Khalifa’s future plans remain open. Like many refugees, he keeps an eye on opportunities that might allow his family to settle permanently in a place where language barriers are fewer and educational opportunities are greater. “If I had the chance to move to another English-speaking country, that could also be good,” he says. But for now, Rwanda is home. “I am here and I am trying to build a life,” he says. A message of responsibility Reflecting on his journey, Khalifa offers simple advice to fellow refugees navigating life in unfamiliar countries. “Respect the culture of the country where you live,” he says. “Follow the laws and work hard.” ALSO READ: How Nigeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia are becoming key FDI sources for Rwanda In doing so, he believes refugees can build trust and create opportunities not only for themselves, but also for the communities that welcome them. For Khalifa, the lesson is rooted in his own experience, a journey that began in the chaos of war but continues in the quiet determination of rebuilding a life, one meal at a time.
