Rwandan President Paul Kagame has dropped Richard Sezibera as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, replacing him with Vincent Biruta in a Cabinet reshuffle announced on Monday.
A senior ruling party cadre, Sezibera, who is reportedly hospitalized and undergoing medical attention in Nairobi was appointed foreign minister in October 2018
He replaced the long serving Louise Mushikiwabo who moved to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
According to sources in Kigali, Biruta was poisoned by elements in government after he reportedly ‘became frustrated with the whole foreign policy approach’.
“He was totally not happy with how Kagame’s owned media outlets insulted and abused the former international relations minister of South Africa Lindiwe Sisulu, especially after the effort he was putting to normalize the relationship with her country. Sezibera was also totally not happy with the government’s approach towards Uganda,” a source told a local online publication.
Biruta, who has been Minister of Environment, is replaced by Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, who until her appointment was Rwanda’s envoy to Russia.
President Kagame has also appointed General Patrick Nyamvumba as Minister of Internal Security.
Nyamvumba has hitherto been Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, a former Chief Executive Officer at Sonarwa Life Assurance Company Ltd, becomes the new Sports minister, replacing Esperence Nyirasafari.
The cabinet realignment also saw the culture docket moved to the ministry of youth, where Rosemary Mbabazi remains the minister, according to a press statement from the Office of the Presidency.
In the same ministry (Youth and Culture) Edouard Bamporiki was appointed as state minister.
Bamporiki has been the Chairman of the National Itorero Commission.
Former legislator Ignatienne Nyirarukundo will serve as Minister of State of the Ministry of Local Government in charge of Social Affairs, where she replaced Dr Alivera Mukabaramba.
Mukabaramba is now in the Senate where she was recently elected vice president in charge of administration and finance.
The changes also saw Assumpta Ingabire appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and Didier Shema Maboko as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports.
Shema is among other activities known for officiating basketball matches as an international umpire.
He has also previously served as a technical advisor in the national basketball federation (FERWABA).
Samuel Dusengiyumva is the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government. He was until yesterday the Coordinator of Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) at the Ministry of Public Service and Labour.
Dr Rose Mukankomeje returns to public service as Executive Director for Higher Education Council, where she replaces Emmanuel Muvunyi who was relieved of his duties last month.
Mukankomeje was once Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
Former Senator Tito Rutaremara is the new head of Rwanda Elders Advisory Council where he replaces Dr Augustin Iyamuremye, the current Senate President.
The elders’ council also got a new member in Marc Kabandana, who was once Mayor of the City of Kigali and has also previously served as the Director-General of the current Rwanda Management Institute.
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