Rwandan diplomat Valentine Rugwabiza has been nominated by the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to head the UN mission in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Rugwabiza is Rwanda's outgoing Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York after government named former infrastructure minister, Claver Gatete to replace her.

She is expected to stay in office until March 2022.

The mission dubbed United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has existed since April 2014 and it’s meant to protect civilians in Central African Republic.

Its other key tasks include support for the transition process; facilitating humanitarian assistance; promotion and protection of human rights; support for justice and the rule of law; and disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes.

Rwanda is a major troop contributor to the mission and maintains military and police contingents in the country.

By the end of February, MINUSCA must get a new leader as the incumbent Mankeur Ndiaye of Senegal who has been at its helm since 2019 will be leaving.

Rugwabiza has previously served as the Minister for East African Community, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, as well as the Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Among other past duties, she worked as Rwanda’s envoy to countries including Switzerland.