Thursday’s Senate endorsed ten new envoys nominated by President Paul Kagame last week as he made adjustments to the diplomatic corps of Rwanda, appointing and redeploying 15 envoys to various nations in Africa and beyond.
The other five that had just been redeployed did not involve senate vetting.
The Senate approved all the new envoys appointed by the president, and many of them, during the vetting process, told senators that they would focus on strengthening relations between Rwanda and foreign countries, particularly in trade and investment areas.
The approved envoys include the outgoing City of Kigali Mayor Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, who will serve as the Swiss Confederation’s new ambassador to replace François-Xavier Ngarambe, who has been redeployed to France.
Senator Mike Rugema, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, which reviewed the profiles of the envoys, said Rwakazina promised to improve contact with private Swiss entrepreneurs to interest them in Rwanda’s investment possibilities.
Rwakazina, who holds a Master of Development Studies degree, has experience working with the UN system and intends to expand the job of the Rwandan Embassy in the Swiss Confederation beyond commitments with UN organizations to tap into the vibrant Swiss private sector and promote investment in Rwanda.
Dr. Aissa Kirabo Kacyira, authorized envoy for the newly established high commission in Ghana, informed senators that she will leverage her presence in Ghana to monitor the execution of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advise Rwanda on how to take benefit of it.
AU Heads of State and Government Assembly chosen Ghana as the host nation for the AfCFTA secretariat earlier this month.
Kacyira, once Mayor of Kigali City and Governor of the Eastern Province, was the Deputy Executive Director of UN Habitat in Nairobi, Kenya, until recently.
The new ambassador to Qatar where another new embassy was created, François Nkulikiyimfura, also promised to encourage trade, tourism, and investment, in particular by following up on Qatar’s promised investment in the new international airport of Bugesera.
Before his appointment, Nkulikiyinfura, who was also approved, worked with the African Development Bank.
Senators also approved the appointment of Emmanuel Hategeka as the new envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board vowed to strengthen the already good relations between Rwanda and the UAE, particularly in trade and investment.
Yasmin Amri Sued, a diplomat in the United Arab Emirates ‘ Rwandan mission, was endorsed as ambassador to Korea, where she will replace Emma-Francoise Isumbingabo.
Senators were told by the new Rwandan ambassador to Korea that she is conscious of the duties she will assume and intends to reinforce current ties between the two nations, particularly in the fields of education and culture, as well as agriculture and ICT.
Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, who was appointed as High Commissioner for Singapore, informed senators that he would work in particular to enhance collaboration on air safety control, trade and development of infrastructure where Singapore’s knowledge would be helpful to Rwanda.
He will also encourage Rwanda-centered tourism and trade in Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand’s other neighboring nations.
Uwihanganye was the Ministry of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure until his appointment as the new ambassador to Singapore.
As for Major-General Charles Karamba, accepted as the new ambassador to Tanzania, he promised to enhance trade and safety collaboration with Tanzania.
Karamba, who was Air Force Chief of Staff in the Rwandan Defense Force, will replace Eugène Kayihura in Tanzania’s Rwandan mission, who was redeployed as a high commissioner to South Africa.
Wellars Gasamagera was also endorsed by senators as an ambassador to Angola, Prosper Higiro as Canada’s high commissioner, and James Kimonyo as China’s ambassador.
Gasamagera will replace Alfred Kalisa, who has been redeployed to Egypt, while Lt Gen Charles Kayonga will be replaced by Kimonyo, who had earlier served as ambassador to Kenya, South Africa and the USA.