KIGALI - Canada’s Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, last evening arrived in the country for a 3-day State visit.
Jean was received by the Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza, Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, the Minister in the President’s office Solina Nyirahabimana and Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada, Edda Mukabagwiza.

Also present to receive the Governor General was Canada’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ross Hynes and the Mayor of Kigali, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira.

The Haitian-born Governor General is expected to visit Kigali Memorial Centre at Gisozi this morning to pay her respects to the remains of over 250,000 laid to rest before heading to Urugwiro Village where she will hold talks with President Paul Kagame.

Jean, will also participate in interactive sessions with young Rwandans on the Genocide, human rights and reconciliation among other topics.

Tomorrow she will visit the National University of Rwanda where she will lay a wreath at the Genocide Monument the University.

She will then deliver the opening speech at a discussion on the role of the media in a democracy. The panel is organized by the NUR in co-operation with the Office of the High Commissioner of Canada to Rwanda.

The Governor General will also visit Nyamagabe to check on the Programme d’Appui à la Gouvernance locale du Rwanda (PAGOR), a project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which supports the Rwandan decentralization policy by strengthening local governance in two districts of the Southern Province; Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru.

Jean will meet the women and men of Kibirizi and participate in a discussion on the growing participation of women in Rwandan society and the challenges they face.

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