- Some new faces in Cabinet: Clockwise: Dr. Richard Sezibera, Solina Nyirahabimana, Anastase Shyaka, Soraya Hakuziyaremye
In his latest cabinet reshuffle, President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Richard Sezibera, as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, replacing Louise Mushikiwabo, who was last week elected as the Secretary General for the International Orgnisation of the Francophonie (OIF).
Dr. Sezibera who was Secretary General to the East African Community (EAC) is not new to foreign affairs. Before his appointment to the EAC post, he had been Minister of Health, and Rwanda’s envoy to the Great Lakes region. Until his appointment today, he was serving in the Senate.
The reshuffle has decreased members of the cabinet from thirty-one to twenty-six, with women taking exactly half the posts.
In other changes, Defence Minister, General James Kabarebe was moved to the President’s office as Senior Security Adviser. Major-General Albert Murasira becomes the new Minister of Defence.
Professor Anastase Shyaka moves from Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) to be the Minister for Local Government, replacing Francis Kaboneka.
Other new faces, include the youthful Soraya Hakizumuremyi who is now Minister of Trade and Industry, replacing Vincent Munyeshyaka.
IT specialist Paula Ingabire, replaces Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa as Minister for ICT.
Solina Nyirahabimana becomes the Minister for gender and family promotion, replacing Esperance Nyirasafari, who moves to Sport and Culture replacing Julienne Uwacu.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs, now is subsumed into the Ministry of Emergency Management, and is headed by Germaine Kamayirese, who was serving as State Minister for Water and Energy at Ministry of Infrastructure
In an eye catching move, former Inspector-General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, becomes the new Governor of Southern Province, and is replaced by Deputy Commissioner Dan Munyuza.
Former Minister of infrastructure James Musoni, is now the new Rwandan Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
The Rwanda Convention Bureau gets a new chief in Nelly Mukazayire, who moves from the Office of the President.
Retired Colonel Anaclet Kalibata is appointed new Director-General for External Security at National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). He was Director-General at the Immigration and Emigration, where he is replaced by Lt Col Regis Gatarayiha.
Former Deputy Commissioner-General at the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), Pascal Ruganintwari moves up to Commissioner-General, and former Commissioner General, Richard Tusabe, becomes the new Director-General at the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). .
