In what appears to be an appreciation and adoption of Abiy Ahmed's widely accepted initiative in Ethiopia - when he unveiled a reduced cabinet that contained an equal amount of women as men; President Kagame of Rwanda has reduced the number of ministers in his cabinet and given an equal opportunity to women.
The cabinet now officially has the same number of women as men.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame carried out the major ministerial reshuffle on Thursday, following the voluntary departure of foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo, notably removing his influential defense minister from the post.
In his latest cabinet reshuffle, President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Richard Sezibera, as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, replacing Louise Mushikiwabo, who was last week elected as the Secretary General for the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).
The reshuffle has decreased members of the cabinet from thirty-one to twenty-six, with women taking exactly half the posts.
Other new faces, include the youthful Soraya Hakizumuremyi who is now Minister of Trade and Industry, replacing Vincent Munyeshyaka.
IT specialist Paula Ingabire, replaces Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa as Minister for ICT.
Solina Nyirahabimana becomes the Minister for gender and family promotion, replacing Esperance Nyirasafari, who moves to Sport and Culture replacing Julienne Uwacu.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs, now is subsumed into the Ministry of Emergency Management, and is headed by Germaine Kamayirese, who was serving as State Minister for Water and Energy at Ministry of Infrastructure.
A number of positions, however, remained unchanged. Rosemary Mbabazi continues as Minister for Youth; Marie-Solange Kayisire continues to serve as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, while Uzziel Ndagijimana maintains the Finance Ministry.
Judith Uwizeye will continue to serve as Minister in the Office of the President and Dr Diane Gashumba as Health Minister, with Dr Gérardine Mukeshimana keeping the agriculture docket.
The cabinet was reduced and dockets that have been scrapped include Minister of Lands and Forestry, State Minister for Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, State Minister for Local Government in charge of Socio-Economic Development, State Minister in charge of Energy and Water, State Minister for Agriculture.
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