President Paul Kagame this Thursday reshuffled his cabinet bringing in new blood with more women. The latest mini-cabinet reshuffle has 19 ministers, 11 are women, and there are seven ministers of state.
Major appointments include Dr. Richard Sezibera as the country’s top diplomat, Major General Albert Murasira as Minister of Defense, Prof. Anastase Shyaka will head local government ministry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye goes to ministry of trade and industry, Paula Ingabire as the Minister of ICT and Solina Nyirahabimana to head MIGEPROFE.
Other changes include Espérance Nyirasafari who was moved to the ministry of sports from MIGEPROFE and Germaine Kamayirese who was transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Some of the changes were expected after Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo was appointed to head the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). However the shakeup saw some long serving persons leave their posts.
General James Kabarebe as Minister of Defense was appointed Adviser on Military and Security issues in the President’s office while ministers Francis Kaboneka, Julienne Uwacu, Vincent Munyeshyaka and Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa were not given any appointment.
Former Minister James Musoni was appointed as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe. Long serving Police Chief Emmanuel Gasana has become the Governor of the Southern Province and will be replaced by Dan Munyuza.
Anaclet Kalibata was appointed the Director-General for External Security at National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and will be replaced by Regis Gatarayiha at the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration.
Tushabe Richard who has been heading Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is the new CEO of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and will be replaced at RRA by Bizimana Ruganintwari.
