Former Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe has been appointed Country Director of the World Agriculture Forum (WAF).

The organisation announced Bagabe's appointment on Tuesday, May 12.

WAF is a global platform that brings together governments, farmers, agribusinesses, experts and development institutions to promote sustainable agricultural development through policy advocacy, trade facilitation and technology driven solutions.

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Bagabe served as Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources from October 2024 until July 2025, when he was succeeded by Telesphore Ndabamenye.

"Dr Bagabe brings decades of experience, including serving as former Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Rwanda, along with extensive international expertise in quality management and agri food systems development,” WDF's statement said.

The organisation added that his leadership would strengthen WAF’s mission to promote sustainable agriculture, innovation, entrepreneurship and global collaboration across Africa and beyond.

"We warmly welcome Dr Bagabe to the WAF global leadership family and look forward to impactful initiatives in Rwanda and the region,” the statement added.

Bagabe holds a PhD in plant health, specialising in plant virology and physiology, from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, obtained between 1999 and 2004.

He also earned a Master of Science in technology of crop protection from the same university between August 1988 and December 1989.