Rwanda’s former State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Théoneste Mutsindashyaka, on Tuesday started his four-year term as the Executive Secretary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA).

In a handover ceremony that took place at RECSA office in Nairobi, Kenya, Mutsindashyaka took over from Kenya’s Dr Francis Sang who has led the body for ten years.

"I am happy for the new job,” Mutsindashyaka told The New Times yesterday. 

Under RECSA, member states work to fight the proliferation and trafficking of illicit small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.

Mutsindashyaka was appointed by the Government of Rwanda to lead the centre and was approved by the Council of Ministers from RECSA member countries last week. Another Rwandan, Chief Supt.  Theophile Kamali, is the centre’s Director of Planning and Coordination.

According to the Minister of Internal Security and current Chairman of the RECSA, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, Mutsindashyaka should prioritise promoting ownership of the centre’s mandate and activities among partner states while ensuring that partner states cooperate in the fight against small arms.

The National Focal Point Coordinator on illicit small arms and light weapons, ACP Sam Karemera, agrees that the new RECSA boss will need to improve coordination at the centre.

Karemera, also a technical advisor for RECSA, revealed that challenges remain on having member countries pay their annual dues of US$70,000 on time.

Troubled past 

In 2009, Mutsindashyaka was arrested and convicted of bending tendering rules, and sentenced to one year in prison.

Lauding his experience in administration, Minister Harerimana said that "prison doesn’t remove one’s qualifications unless the court has done so”.

Mutsindashyaka served in various capacities in different ministries. Among them was Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Youth and Culture as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He is also a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, former Mayor of City of Kigali, and former Governor of the Eastern Province.