She had been approached for the position for several weeks now, it is now official: the Rwandan Valentine Rugwabiza will replace the Senegalese Mankeur Ndiaye at the head of Minusca, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. The announcement was made overnight from New York by Secretary General Antonio Guterres. It is a long-term diplomat who takes the reins of the Minusca.
With our correspondent in Bangui, Carol Valade
Since 2016, Valentine Rugwabiza has been the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations. Former minister of Paul Kagame, president of the management of the Rwanda Development Council, deputy director general of the World Trade Organization, the 59-year-old diplomat has already largely proven herself.
Mankeur Ndiaye’s mandate ends on February 28. He quit his job. without regret “, According to those around him, after more than three particularly turbulent years at the head of Minusca. The Senegalese diplomat on twitter wishes ” success and good luck to her successor. He should extend his mission for a few weeks, the time for Valentine Rugbwabuiza to put down his suitcases in Bangui.
This succession occurs when relations are particularly tense between Bangui and the Minsuca, four of whom were detained by the police before being released on Thursday. A release that had been demanded by the Secretary General of the United Nations.
Last Monday, the four French soldiers working for the UN were arrested on board a rental vehicle deemed ” suspect by the security services. They escorted the Minusca chief of staff to the airport, shortly before President Touadera returned to Bangui.
At the beginning of November, the presidential guard opened fire on a United Nations bus carrying unarmed blue helmets, injuring several people. The UN regularly accuses the national army and its Russian allies of obstructing its mission. Suffice to say that the new boss of the Minusca will have to show tenacity to resolve these tensions.