Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK Williams Nkurunziza has been elected the new Chair of Commonwealth Secretariat Board of Governors.Amb. Nkurunziza took up his responsibilities yesterday, having been elected unanimously by his fellow Board members.

He succeeds Carl Roberts, high commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to the UK, and will serve in this position for two years.

All 53 Commonwealth member states are represented on the Board of Governors, which meets annually to consider Commonwealth Secretariat work plans and budgets.

Speaking after discussions with Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth headquarters in London,  Nkurunziza said: "I am profoundly grateful to my fellow governors for their confidence and for entrusting me and my country with this important responsibility.

"I look forward to working with my fellow governors and the senior management of the Commonwealth Secretariat to ensure that the organisation continues to deliver good value to the member states.”

Greeting Nkurunziza on his first day as chair, Sharma said: "The High Commissioner for Rwanda takes up his duties as Chair of our Board of Governors on the day we open a new chapter at the Commonwealth Secretariat. The structure of our divisions and our staffing arrangements have been reformed.”

Sharma said he felt sure that they would enjoy a warm and productive relationship as they work together to deliver the Secretariat’s strategic plan for advancing democracy, development and respect for diversity in all Commonwealth countries.

He said: "I look forward to working in close and fruitful collaboration with Amb. Nkurunziza to serve the needs of all our member states in fresh and practical ways, and to achieve impact that will fulfill their high ambitions for the Commonwealth.”

The Secretary-General said Amb. Nkurunziza comes well prepared for the role of chair, having served as Chair of the Board’s Executive Committee for the past year.