The Rwandan Senate has officially approved Domitilla Mukantaganzwa as the new President of the Supreme Court, with Hitiyaremye Alphonse appointed as Vice President.
On December 3, 2024, President Paul Kagame designated Mukantaganzwa to lead the country’s judiciary, succeeding Dr. Faustin Ntezilyayo, who completed his five-year term. The Senate reviewed and confirmed the appointments on Thursday, December 5, 2024, affirming the nominees’ qualifications and readiness for their roles.
According to Article 154 of Rwanda’s Constitution, the President and Vice President of the Supreme Court are appointed through a Presidential Order, subject to Senate approval. The process includes consultations with the Cabinet and the High Council of the Judiciary.
Mukantaganzwa, born on November 11, 1964, in Kimihurura, Kigali, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Since 2019, she has served as the President of the Rwanda Law Reform Commission.
She has 30 years of experience in legal practice and has held various positions, such holding the position of the Executive Secretary of Gacaca Courts, which coordinated the traditional judicial system that heard nearly two million cases related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Mukantaganzwa holds a Master’s degree in Peace and International Relations from the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR) at Hekima University in Kenya. Additionally, she earned a professional law degree from Rwanda’s Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).
Mukantaganzwa becomes the sixth Chief Justice of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the second female to hold this position.
Hitiyaremye Alphonse, the new Vice President of the Supreme Court, succeeds Mukamulisa Marie-Thérèse. With a career in public service spanning back to 1996, Hitiyaremye has held various governmental positions, gaining extensive experience in the legal and administrative sectors.
These appointments mark a new chapter for Rwanda’s judiciary, with Mukantaganzwa and Hitiyaremye poised to bring their expertise and leadership to the nation’s legal system.
