Evening Stroll Turns Deadly
Tong Gong, a fourth-year South Sudanese medical student in Cairo, set out for a routine evening walk in the Maadi district on Tuesday. Hours later, he was found unconscious and bleeding, the latest victim in a series of attacks targeting migrants.
Medical Aid Delay Under Scrutiny
Eyewitnesses say Egyptian police cordoned off the scene yet withheld immediate medical help, citing investigative protocol. The six-hour delay proved fatal; Gong died en route to hospital after family members finally secured his release.
Community Grief and Police Probe
Ngong Atem Akol, who heads the South Sudan Medical Students Association in Egypt, confirmed that several South Sudanese have been detained for questioning, while the attackers’ identities remain unknown. He called for calm and cooperation with investigators.
Rising Tensions for African Migrants
Human-rights monitors count multiple assaults on South Sudanese nationals in Cairo in recent years, often linked to economic stress and social prejudice. Advocacy groups urge Egyptian authorities to strengthen neighbourhood policing to reassure migrant communities.
Dreams Interrupted, Aspirations Endure
Gong, enrolled at Cairo University and set to graduate in 2027, aspired to return home as a surgeon. Friends remember his dedication. “He wanted to heal people back in Juba,” Akol told journalists, his voice breaking with emotion.
Calls for Protection and Justice
South Sudan’s embassy has requested a transparent investigation and improved liaison with Egyptian security. Student unions propose helplines and safe-movement guidelines. For many young Africans studying abroad, the hope is simple: to learn in safety and come home alive.