An extraordinary cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame yesterday nominated former Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Mathias Harebamungu, to be Rwanda's envoy in Senegal. He awaits approval by Senate. The Rwandan Embassy in Senegal has been without an ambassador for some time. Like other missions, the Embassy of Rwanda in Senegal, among others, seeks to promote the image of the country and to protect the interests of Rwanda there and in the sub region within the bilateral setting of Dakar; a major hub of international institutions, agencies and Embassies. Cooperation between both nations includes a yearly scholarship in which the Government of Senegal avails 15 spots for Rwandan students to pursue their University education in veterinary studies at the Regional Institute of Higher Learning of Senegal. Last November, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and Rwanda Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (SAKSS) hosted a delegation from the agriculture sector of Senegal to share experiences in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). Senegal

The French (official language) speaking multiethnic nation located on the west of the African continent is part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of 15 West African countries keen on promoting economic integration across the region. Senegal's economy is mainly based on commodities and natural resources. Its main industries are fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair. And, like most African nations, agriculture is a major sector. Senegal produces important cash crops, including peanuts, sugarcane, cotton, green beans, tomatoes, melons, and mangoes. Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also appointed several other people to head government departments. Eng. Didier Giscard Sagashya, who was until yesterday the deputy director general for land and mapping at Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA), becomes the new head of the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), replacing Esther Mutamba. At the Rwanda Law Reform Commission, five non-permanent commissioners - Athanase Rutabingwa, Julien Kavaruganda, Usta Kayitesi, Odette Yankulije, and Stanislas Kabarira – were appointed.