Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, 60, is the new Chief Justice of Rwanda, one of the five highest positions in the country’s governance. She was appointed on December 3, by President Paul Kagame, replacing Faustin Ntezilyayo who had served in that capacity for five years since 2019. Mukantaganzwa becomes the sixth Chief Justice of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the second female to hold such a top position in Rwanda’s judiciary, after Aloysie Cyanzayire who did so from 2003 to 2011. Her 30 years of experience in legal practice has been marked with various positions, and promotions. She holds a Masters’ degree in peace studies, from Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya; a bachelor of law from the National University of Rwanda (in 1987), and a diploma in legal practice from Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD). Before 1994, she worked as an assistant to the Bourgemestre (a position that can be likened to the current mayor) of Nyarugenge and subsequently worked as a registration officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. From 1994 to 1998, she served as the Director General in the then Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, and later, she joined the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). During the 1999-2003 period, she was a commissioner in the Legal and Constitutional Commission – for drafting of the 2003 Rwanda constitution. ALSO READ: New AU role will not disrupt Gacaca – Mukantaganzwa Later, from 2003 to 2012, she became Executive Secretary of Gacaca Courts, which consist of a traditional judicial system that heard nearly two million cases related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Before her appointment to the Supreme Court presidency, she had been the Chairperson of Rwanda Law Reform Commission. This is a public entity whose core responsibilities include analysing Rwandan laws and provide advice to relevant State organs on their amendment; and assessing laws in force to identify obsolete laws and areas requiring new laws. Meanwhile, Kagame also picked Alphonse Hitiyaremye as Vice President of the Supreme Court (also called Deputy Chief Justice), succeeding Marie-Thérèse Mukamulisa. Hitiyaremye has been a judge of the Supreme court before his new appointment. He served in various positions within the Government of Rwanda namely as communication, documentation and legal information officer at Rwanda’s Embassy in Paris (1996-1997), Advisor to the Minister of Justice (1998), Human Rights Officer in the Ministry of Justice (1999), Inspector General of Prosecution (2004-2006), Deputy Prosecutor General (2006-2013), He holds a Master’s in International Public Law from Kiev State University (1995, Ukraine). Currently, the Chief Justice and their deputy serve for a term of five years, renewable once.
