Valentine Rugwabiza

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 is now the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSCA, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

Early life and education Rugwabiza was born on 25 July 1963.

Career 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. She returned to Kigali in 1997 to run her own company, Synergy Group. She served as Minister for East African Community from 2014 to 2016.

Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Paul Kagame in November 2016. She remains a member of the Cabinet of Rwanda

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.

Personal life Rugwabiza is married to John Paulin Sendanyoye.