Valentine Rugwabiza, the new boss of Minusca in the Central African Republic.
The new special representative of the UN secretary general in the country arrived in the capital on Sunday 17 April. She replaces the Senegalese Mankeur Ndiaye at the head of Minusca, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, in a tense context. Relations between the UN and the authorities are checkered, but the ties that unite Kigali and Bangui might serve as an asset.
With our correspondent in Bangui, Carol Valade
Appointed on February 23 by Antonio Guterres, Valentine Rugwabiza has just settled in Bangui. She replaces Mankeur Ndiaye following three particularly turbulent years at the head of Minusca.
Last year, rebel groups were pushed back on the edge at the gates of the capital. Relations with the government are most tumultuous. Arrests of blue helmets, violations of the agreement on the status of forces by the national army and its Russian allies, which the UN regularly accuses of preventing its investigations into human rights violations.
Files well known by the former permanent representative of Rwanda to the United Nations. To find a way out, the 59-year-old diplomat will no doubt be able to count on the mission’s internal relays. His country is today the first contributor of troops to the Minusca, to the most strategic positions. The Rwandans, for example, ensure the close protection of President Touadera.
A relationship strengthened by cooperation agreements linking the two countries in the areas of trade, mining and defence. In addition to the blue helmets, a battalion of the Rwandan army is also deployed in the Central African Republic under a bilateral agreement.
► Read also : Central African Republic: Rwandan Valentine Rugwabiza takes the helm of the UN mission