Africa

Kagame names new foreign minister, replaces intelligence chief in cabinet reshuffle

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame sits to submit his candidature, where he seeks re-election in the upcoming polls due in July, at Rwanda's National Election Commission in Kiyovu, Kigali, on May 17, 2024. (Photo: Jean Bizimana/Reuters)

By Mwangi Maina | Thursday, June 13, 2024

The Rwandan leader also appointed Yusuf Murangwa as the new Finance Minister, replacing Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, who has held the position since April 2018.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Wednesday evening reinstated Olivier Nduhungirehe as the country's foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle more than three years after dismissing him for “consistently acting based on personal opinions over government policies.”

The vocal former State Minister for the East African Community was dropped in April 2020 and redeployed as Rwandan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Netherlands.

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He replaces Vincent Biruta who has been moved to the Interior ministry as minister.

He had previously also been Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium with accreditation to Luxembourg, the European Union from December 2015 to September 2017.

In the Netherlands, Nduhungirehe was replaced by Alfred Gasana who has been serving as Interior Minister.

Kagame also transferred the powerful Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita from the position of Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Security advisor

Nzabamwita, former army spokesperson and military strategist, has been appointed Senior Security Advisor in the Office of the President. Since 2016, Nzabamwita has served as Rwanda’s intelligence chief.

On Wednesday night, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that Nzabamwita has been replaced by Aimable Havugiyaremye, Rwanda’s Prosecutor General.

The reasons behind Nzabamwita’s transfer to the President’s office remain unclear.

However, officials suggest that after nearly a decade in his intelligence role, it was time for President Kagame to introduce new leadership for the sensitive position.

This change occurs amidst ongoing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo over the M23 rebellion in the eastern DRC.

Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 rebels, allegations which Kigali denies.

The Rwandan leader also appointed Yusuf Murangwa as the new Finance Minister, replacing Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, who has held the position since April 2018.

Murangwa, a statistician and operational researcher, previously served as the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) and brings over 15 years of experience in statistics development.

Additionally, Mutesi Linda Rusagara, formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Agaciro Development Fund, has been appointed as the new Minister of State for Resource Mobilisation and Public Investment at the Ministry of Finance.