URUGWIRO VILLAGE - EU Development Commissioner, Louis Michel, has hailed the recent nomination by Rwanda of a future envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Amandin Rugira, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was on Wednesday named Rwanda’s Ambassador to the DRC, during a Cabinet meeting at Urugwiro Village, chaired by President Paul Kagame.

Michel’s comments were revealed in a Friday e-mail by the EU’s country Press Attaché Esther Tidjani.

"It is an extremely positive step towards the normalization of relations between the two countries that we impatiently wait for. I am confident that the DRC will accept this proposition and will after that effect the same to solidify a reciprocal commitment to normalizing diplomatic relations,” says the Commissioner’s French worded comments.

"Such news is a source of hope and satisfaction, notably for the regions’ population which at last sees the prospect of a better future.”

The two countries are currently seeking to restore diplomatic relations.

During the same Cabinet meeting, several other such nominations were announced including that of Christine Nkurikiyinka, as Rwanda’s envoy to Germany whose predecessor had been brought home following controversies that arose after the arrest Director of State Protocol Rose Kabuye.

Kabuye was arrested in the German city of Frankfurt in November last year, later extradited to France, but has since been released on bail with the indictment against her issued by French judge Jean Louis Bruguiere suspended.

However, Rugira and Nkurikiyinka and the other nominees will wait to undergo the normal vetting procedures before they are fully confirmed.

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