{"id":2000116203,"date":"2026-06-19T10:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T08:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000116203"},"modified":"2026-06-19T16:37:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:37:56","slug":"senate-approves-new-ambassadors-urges-them-to-strengthen-international-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/senate-approves-new-ambassadors-urges-them-to-strengthen-international-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate approves new ambassadors, urges them to strengthen international cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The decision was made following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Security, which assessed the suitability of the nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those approved is Lt Gen (Rtd) Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, who was nominated as Rwanda\u2019s ambassador to China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenting the committee\u2019s findings, Senator Murangwa Ndangiza Hadidja said Karenzi Karake brings extensive experience and expertise that will enable him to effectively carry out his diplomatic duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His previous roles include serving as a consultant at the Ministry of Interior, advisor to the President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the National Intelligence and Security Service, and Commander of the Rwanda Peace Academy, among other senior positions in the Rwanda Defence Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karenzi Karake said he intends to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Rwanda and China, with a focus on security, technology, trade, industry, and existing partnership agreements between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maj Gen Aimable Bayingana, who was approved as Rwanda\u2019s ambassador to Israel, has also held several senior positions, including chairing a committee on the history of Rwanda\u2019s liberation struggle, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Air Force Chief of Staff, and Vice Chairperson of the National Itorero Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he will focus on learning from Israel\u2019s innovation systems, strengthening security cooperation, preserving the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi and combating its denial and distortion, and promoting technology-driven agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also emphasized the importance of attracting Israeli agricultural experts to Rwanda, arguing that this would be more effective than sending Rwandans abroad for training. He further highlighted the need for Rwanda to learn from Israel\u2019s vocational education system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col (Rtd) Jeannot Ruhunga was approved as Rwanda\u2019s ambassador to Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He previously served as Secretary-General of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and Head of Military Intelligence in the RDF, among other roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruhunga said he will focus on providing accurate information about Rwanda to European countries, many of which, he said, still hold misconceptions about the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also pledged to learn from Poland\u2019s development model, strengthen cooperation in education, improve social welfare collaboration, and identify new areas of partnership between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka will become Rwanda\u2019s first resident ambassador to Spain. Until now, Rwanda\u2019s representation in Spain was handled through its embassy in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the new ambassador, she pledged to contribute to the implementation of defense cooperation agreements between Rwanda and Spain, attract Spanish investors to Rwanda, explore opportunities for Spanish universities to open branches in Rwanda, and strengthen cooperation on gender equality, among other priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senator Murangwa also noted that senators urged the new ambassadors to play a role in combating genocide ideology, learn from their host countries, and strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senator John Bonds Bideri said the nominees have the experience and capacity needed to fulfill their responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no doubt they have the willingness to serve their country. Many of them contributed to the liberation of Rwanda and have continued to serve in different capacities over the years. Their appointment gives us confidence that they will perform well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senator Sosth\u00e8ne Cyitatire noted that the ambassadors have a strong commitment to serving their country, given their long history of public service since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also welcomed the decision to appoint ambassadors with military backgrounds to key countries such as China, Israel, and Poland, saying modern diplomacy increasingly includes military diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said, \u201cIt was a timely decision because modern diplomacy today includes military diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other appointments approved by the Senate were Florien Habiyaremye Rurihose, who was reappointed as Deputy Chief Gender Monitor in Charge of Gender Mainstreaming; Maximilien Byilingiro, appointed Director General of the Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL); and Michelle Umurungi, appointed Deputy CEO in charge of investments at the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Lt Gen (Rtd) Karenzi Karake has been approved as Rwanda\u2019s ambassador to China<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Col (Rtd) Jeannot Ruhunga has been approved as Rwanda\u2019s ambassador to Poland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Maj Gen Emmanuel Bayingana pledged to strengthen Rwanda\u2013Israel relations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ambassador Nkulikiyinka will oversee Rwanda\u2019s interests in Spain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Rwandan Senate has approved the appointment of Lt Gen (Rtd) Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, Maj Gen Emmanuel Bayingana, Col (Rtd) Jeannot Ruhunga, and Amb Christine Nkulikiyinka as Rwanda\u2019s new ambassadors to various countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000116205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000116203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics-48","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000116205,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":600,"height":450,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","width":600,"height":450},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","width":600,"height":450},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","width":600,"height":450},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","width":600,"height":450},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/collage_2_-6678bfffff.jpg","width":600,"height":450}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000116203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000116203"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000116203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000116258,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000116203\/revisions\/2000116258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000116205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000116203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000116203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000116203"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000116203"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000116203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}