Seasoned politician and diplomat Christophe Bazivamo has been named Secretary General of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) after his approval by the party’s congress on Friday, December 19. Bazivamo replaces Wellars Gasamagera, a former diplomat himself who has held the position since 2023. The appointment was announced during the 17th RPF Congress held at the party headquarters in Rusororo, where members also adopted reforms to the party’s leadership structure. Among the key outcomes of the reforms was the establishment of a Council of Elders as one of the party organs. The congress further approved new members of the Executive Committee, naming Consolée Uwimana as First Vice Chairperson, Marie Solange Kayisire as Second Vice Chairperson, and Stephen Gasana Karasanyi as Deputy Secretary General. Uwimana, who is also the minister of Gender and Family Affairs, has been serving in a similar role in the party. Bazivamo is a senior RPF cadre with extensive leadership experience. He most recently served as the party’s Vice Chairman, a position he held between 2002 and 2023. His public service career includes roles as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Minister of Local Government, Community Development, Information and Social Affairs, Minister of Internal Security, and Minister of Lands, Environment, Forests, Water and Mines, among others. He is also a diplomat and currently serves as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
