Monique Mukaruliza, Rwanda's former ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, passed away on Saturday, March 30, in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

The death of the former mayor of the City of Kigali, who was on March 12 appointed ambassador at large in charge of regional integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was confirmed by her husband John Ntirushwamaboko.

She was receiving treatment in Brussels for about two weeks before her death, Ntirushwamaboko was quoted by Igihe as saying.

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Before her recent appointment, Mukaruliza was a strategic advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Mukaruliza previoisly served as Minister in charge of the East African Community, between 2008 and 2013.

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From July 2013 - February 2016, Mukaruliza served as National Coordinator of Northern Corridor Integration Projects.

She also served as the Representative of the African Union in Sudan and Deputy Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairman to Sudan from 2005 to 2008.

Between 2001 and 2005, Mukaruliza served as Commissioner for Quality Assurance and later as Commissioner for Domestic Taxes, at Rwanda Revenue Authority.

Between 1998 and 2001, Mukaruliza, who was an accountant by training, was a financial analyst at Bank of Kigali. Before that, from 1995 to 1998, she was the head of finance and accounting at Village d'Enfants SOS, Rwanda.