The Advisory Council of Rusizi District in Western Province elected Alfred Habimana as interim mayor after Anicet Kibiriga resigned on Saturday, November 23, citing personal reasons.
Habimana had served as the district vice-mayor in charge of economic development since May, when his predecessor Louis Munyemanzi Ndagijimana resigned.
Kibiriga, who had been mayor since November 2021, resigned along with Anne Marie Dukuzumuremyi, the vice-mayor in change of social affairs, and Jeanne d'Arc Niyonsaba, a member of the district council who also headed the National Women’s Council in the district.
Monique Uwimana, the secretary of the district council, replaced Dukuzumuremyi and will serve in acting capacity.
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An extraordinary meeting of Rusizi District Advisory Council was held on Saturday 23, during which the resignations Mayor Kibiriga, Vice Mayor Dukuzumuremyi, and Councillor Niyonsaba were accepted.
The three officials cited personal reasons for resignations, according to Odette Uwizeye, chairperson of the advisory council.
"There has been no problem in the district that may be linked to their resignation,” Uwizeye told The New Times. "Service delivery for our population continues as usual. That is why the district council moved quickly to bridge the gap.”
Saturday also left changes at the Provincial level. President Paul Kagame appointed a new Governor of Western Province, replacing Lambert Dushimimana, who had held the position since September 2023.
Jean-Bosco Ntibitura, who previously served as Director General in charge of Internal Security at the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), took over as the new Governor of Western Province.
The resignations in Rusizi District came one week after another host resignations in Karongi District, which is also located in Western Province.
On November 15, Valentine Mukase resigned as mayor of Karongi District and Théophile Niragire as vice mayor in charge of economic development. The two resigned along with Donatha Dusingize, who chaired the District Advisory Council.