Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe Hands Over Power to Dr. Usta Kayitesi at MINAFFET

Kigali, Rwanda - Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, former Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINAFFET), officially handed over power to Dr. Usta Kayitesi, his successor, on the evening of Thursday, December 11, 2025. The handover coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Kayitesi and other newly appointed officials before the Head of State at the National Assembly.

Following the transition, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe was appointed Senior Security Advisor in the Office of the President, while Dr. Kayitesi, previously a Senator, assumed the role of Secretary of State at MINAFFET. Dr. Kayitesi had been replaced in the Senate by Dr. Muligande Charles.

At the ceremony, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of MINAFFET, Fidelis Mironko, also handed over his powers to his successor, Mukeka Clementine. The event was presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe.

During the oath-taking, President Kagame urged the new leaders, including Dr. Kayitesi, to fulfill their responsibilities diligently, emphasizing that the country’s challenges require extraordinary effort.

Dr. Usta Kayitesi has an extensive background in governance and education. He served as Director General of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) from July 2019 to August 2024, following a tenure as Deputy Director General. He holds a Master of Laws, was a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), and served as Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS).

Notably, Dr. Kayitesi was among seven commissioners tasked with assisting Parliament in revising the Constitution in 2015, serving as Vice-Chairman of the committee.

Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, born in 1959 in Uganda, rose to prominence as Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Armed Forces from 2002 to 2010, becoming the first to hold the post for an extended period. Educated at St. Henry’s College Kitovu and Makerere University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. He retired as one of the few Four-Star Generals in Rwanda’s military and has held numerous high-level positions in both the military and government.