Valentine rugwabiza wikipedia
Valentine Rugwabiza
Rwandan businesswoman and politician
Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza (born 25, July ) is a Rwandan businesswoman and politician who has served as the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from to 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
Rugwabiza was born on 25 July [3] She has a bachelor's and a master's degree in economics from the National University of Zaire.[3][4]
Career
For eight years, Rugwabiza worked for Swiss multinational companyHoffmann-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 to run her own company, Synergy Group.[5][4]
In , Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, serving for three years.[6][5]
From until , 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 to [8] She served as Minister for East African Community from to [3] In , 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 PresidentPaul Kagame in November [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 until June [11]
In February , 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
Rugwabiza is married to John Paulin Sendanyoye.[3][6]