RDB’S AMB. YAMINA KARITANYI RETURNS TO DIPLOMATIC SERVICE TO HEAD UK MISSION
(Posted 10th September 2015)
(RDB’s Chief Tourism Chair has just become vacant)
After just completing a successful 11th edition of Rwanda’s tourism and conservation showcase event, Kwita Izina, and meeting this correspondent yesterday morning at her office in Kigali on the 03rd floor of the RDB Building, does it now appear that Ambassador Yamina will return to the diplomatic service as new High Commissioner of Rwanda to the Court of St. James, i.e. the United Kingdom.
Prior to becoming the Head of Tourism and Conservation nearly two years ago did Amb. Yamina serve as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya before taking over from Rica Rwigamba.
RDB has over the past two years undergone some restructuring and in retrospect, when discussing various aspects of RDB’s operations yesterday, was the cryptic message that more change is on the way, clearly attributed to Amb. Yamina herself, something she could of course not reveal until the Rwandan cabinet office had made a formal announcement.
While Rwanda’s Senate must still assent to the new appointment is this largely expected to be a mere formality after the Rwandan cabinet had yesterday approved this and three other new ambassadorial appointments. Among those will be the first Rwandan resident ambassador to Angola, a new ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and a new ambassador to Ethiopia.
(Amb. Yamina seen here in Kinigi / Musanze at the recent 11th Kwita Izina celebrations)
Amb. Yamina is also a member of the Board of Directors of RwandAir – the national airline earlier this week announced the acquisition of four more aircraft due for delivery in 2016, including two Airbus A330 – where she currently serves as Vice Chairperson of the Board. It could in view of the rapid developments of the past few hours not be ascertained if she will remain on the board or step down to have her successor at RDB take over that position too.
Amb. Yamina yesterday spoke of both the successes as well as the challenges both conservation and tourism, she looks after the combined portfolio at the Rwanda Development Board, while expressing her confidence that after bagging nearly 305 million US Dollars in revenues last year, 2015 will again see another rise in both numbers as well as money earned from the sector.
It is expected that a replacement at RDB as new Chief Tourist Officer will be named very shortly, so watch this space for more breaking news.
