Carmen Nibigira, a prominent figure in East Africa’s tourism and hospitality industry, passed away on Saturday, November 16, in Nairobi, Kenya, following an illness.

She was 46 years old.

Born in Burundi in 1978, Nibigira dedicated over 24 years to the hotel and tourism sector.

At the time of her passing, she was the Lead Tourism and Hospitality Management within the Rwanda Programs team at the Mastercard Foundation.

She held a Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management obtained from Clemson University, U.S.A and held respectively a Masters and Bachelor’s Degree inTravel and Tourism and Destination Management from the University College Birmingham and the University of Brighton, United Kingdom.

The tourism and conservation expert was the Project Director for Horwath HTL, a global leader in hospitality consulting.

Nibigira began her career in the tourism and travel industry in 2000. She held various roles, including managing tour operation companies in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, and overseeing an international hotel in Tanzania.

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Between 2015 and 2017, she was the regional coordinator of the East Africa Tourism Platform and was formerly the Director General of the Burundi National Tourism Office.

Her contribution to the hospitality sector earned her recognition, including the African Women in Tourism Leadership Award. In 2017, she was named one of the Top 100 Influential Women in Travel.

Beyond her professional achievements, Nibigira was an advocate for women's education and socio-economic empowerment.

She was also on the Board of Directors for the Akilah Institute for Women in Rwanda.

She was the mother of two boys aged 17 and 19.