US govt swears in first female envoy to Rwanda

Erica Jean Barks Ruggles is now set to be the new United States ambassador to Rwanda following her swearing-in ceremony at the US Department of State on Monday. A statement from Rwanda’s Embassy in Washington indicates that on Monday, Amb. Mathilde Mukantabana, Rwanda’s envoy to the US, attended the swearing-in ceremony which was led by Amb. Susan Rice, the US National Security Advisor. The ceremony was attended by distinguished U.S. government officials, including Russell D. Feingold, U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes and DR Congo and Donald W. Koran, Former U.S. ambassador to Rwanda. Amb. Rice “applauded the appointment of Barks-Ruggles and further highlighted her unique position to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Rwanda.” Tony Blinkin, the Deputy Secretary of State, who started his new assignment on Monday, swore-in the US’s first female ambassador to Rwanda. Blinkin commended Rwanda for “its major accomplishments” and also pledged full support to the new envoy as she works “to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.” Barks-Ruggles also spoke highly of Rwanda, calling it a model in development, despite its tragic past – the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. A career diplomat, Barks-Ruggles first overseas assignment was in 1992, as vice consul at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai (Madras), India. Since then, Barks-Ruggles who speaks English, French and Norwegian, has served in different capacities, including being a Deputy to U.N. Amb. Rice and serving as a Council General at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town, South Africa. She is married to Taylor Ruggles, also a U.S. career diplomat. According to the state department website, she has been serving as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, a position she has held since August 2011. During her career, she has served at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy-making, including tours as Deputy to the U.S. ambassador to the UN, on detail as a Director at the National Security Council, among others. Barks-Ruggles joined the Foreign Service in October 1991. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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US govt swears in first female envoy to Rwanda