Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza | |
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Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations | |
Ambassador | |
Assumed office 23 February 2022 | |
Appointed by | António Guterres |
Preceded by | Mankeur Ndiaye |
Permanent Representative of Rwanda to United Nations | |
In office November 2016 – February 2022 | |
Appointed by | Paul Kagame |
Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization | |
In office 2005–2013 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1963 (age 60–61) Rwanda |
Spouse | John Paulin Sendanyoye |
Alma mater | National University of Zaire |
Occupation | Economist, Businesswoman |
Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza (born 25, July 1963) is a Rwandan businesswoman and politician who has served as the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2016 to 2018. She now is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSCA, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Rugwabiza was born on 25 July 1963.[3] She has a bachelor's and a master's degree in economics from the National University of Zaire.[3][4]
Career
[edit]For eight years, Rugwabiza worked for Swiss multinational company Hoffmann-La Roche, first as the head of commercial development and marketing for Central Africa in Yaoundé, and then as regional director in Ivory Coast.[5] She returned to Kigali in 1997 to run her own company, Synergy Group.[5][4]
In 2002, Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, serving for three years.[6][5]
From 2005 until 2013, Rugwabiza was Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization,[3] the first woman to hold the position.[4] She is a founding member of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, the Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the Rwandese Women Leaders’ Caucus.[7][6]
Rugwabiza was CEO of the Rwanda Development Board from 2013 to 2014.[8] She served as Minister for East African Community from 2014 to 2016.[3] In 2015, she was named as one of Jeune Afrique's "50 powerful women in Africa."[9]
Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Paul Kagame in November 2016.[3][10] She remains a member of the Cabinet of Rwanda[3] and was a member of the East African Legislative Assembly for a five-year term from 2012 until June 2017.[11]
In February 2022, the UN announced that Valentine Rugwabiza would replace the Senegalese Mankeur Ndiaye at the head of Minusca, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Rugwabiza is married to John Paulin Sendanyoye.[3][6]
See also
[edit]Publications
[edit]- Rugwabiza, Valentine (2008). "Urgency of Completing the Doha Round more Acute than Ever". In United Nations Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (ed.). Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation: Dialogues at the Economic and Social Council. United Nations Publications. pp. 43–45. ISBN 9789211045871.
- Rugwabiza, Valentine; González, Arancha (11 May 2016). "Economic integration is helping boost trade and investment in Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- Rugwabiza, Valentine (18 July 2016). "Africa: Amidst Brexit Woes, Africa Forges Ahead With Integration". The New Times. All Africa. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- Rugwabiza, Valentine (17 July 2016). "Britain may have given up on the EU dream, but Africa still wants integration". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
References
[edit]- ^ Valade, Carol. "Centrafrique: la rwandaise Valentine Rugwabiza prend la tête de la mission de l'ONU". RFI. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g "New Permanent Representative of Rwanda Presents Credentials". United Nations. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ a b c Machado, Audace (29 May 2008). "Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza". Reines d'Afrique (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "The Senate approves Amb. Rugwabiza Valentine as RDB CEO". Republic of Rwanda Parliament. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza". World Trade Organization. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "Hon. Valentine Rugwabiza". Yale Young African Scholars. Yale University. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ Banda, Honoré (1 July 2014). "Rwanda's bet: Middle-income or bust". The Africa Report. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ Ballong, Stéphane (12 January 2015). "Rwanda: Valentine Rugwabiza, de l'OMC à l'intégration est-africaine". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza has handed over office to Hon. Minister François Kanimba". Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Trade and Industry. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "Amb. Rugwabiza, Valentine". East African Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "Centrafrique: la rwandaise Valentine Rugwabiza prend la tête de la mission de l'ONU". RFI (in French). 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.