In a major shake up of the Agriculture Ministry, Dr. Ildephonse Musafiri has been appointed a full Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) effective March 2.
Before rising to the apex of one of the largest Ministries in Rwanda, Dr. Musafiri was serving as Minister of State of Agriculture. He replaces an all powerful Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana who had been heading this institution since 2014.
“Your Excellency President Paul Kagame thank you for entrusting me with the responsibility to lead Ministry of Agriculture. I commit to our mission to deliver tangible results for citizens without delay,” he tweeted.
Previously, Dr. Musafiri was the Executive Director of the Strategy and Policy Council (SPC) in the Office of the President of the Republic of Rwanda.
Formerly a member of the board of directors of the National Bank of Rwanda since April 2018, he is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics, where he previously served as Lecturer and Head of the Economics Department.
His research has focused on development economics and policy, particularly the analysis of poverty and inequality, agricultural growth, and food policy.
Dr. Musafiri earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Bonn (Germany) and a M.Sc. in applied economics from the University of Rwanda. He is fluent in English, French, and Kinyarwanda, and has a working knowledge of German.
Meanwhile, in the same shake up at the Ministry, DR Telesphore Ndabamenye has been appointed Director General of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) while Clarisse Umutoni has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at RAB.
