The Council of Ministers has approved the appointment of Antoine Anfré, as French Ambassador to Rwanda. This decision taken by the Council of Ministers on 12 June puts an end to the process of normalization of relations between the two countries, France and Rwanda.
After the historic visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Rwanda from 27 to 28 May, the new Ambassador of the French Republic to Rwanda is now known.
Antoine Anfré is expected to present soon his letters of accreditation as the new Ambassador of the French Republic to Rwanda, after the approval by the Council of Ministers held on June 12, 2021 at Village Urugwiro, of the agreement of his appointment.
He is mentioned several times in the Declert report as someone who supported the change of policy towards the Juvénal Habyarimana regime.
Born on 7 January 1963, Antoine Anfré is a former student of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA 1994-1996).
In turn, first embassy counsellor in Nairobi (2003-2006), embassy counsellor in Ankara (Turkey) (2006-2009), foreign affairs inspector (2010-2011), and embassy counsellor in London (2011-2014), Antoine Anfré will be appointed ambassador only on 23 February 2014 to represent his country in Niger.
He will not finish his three-year term because a year and a few months later (2015), he is recalled by his country at the request of the Nigerien government. The latter could not stand the criticism of this diplomat. Immediately afterwards, he was appointed ambassador for sport.
Six years ago, after Michel Flesch’s departure, France remained without an ambassador in Kigali. It was represented successively by three chargés d’affaires, Xavier Verjus-Renard (2015-2017), Etienne de Souza (2015-2019) and Jérémie Blin (2019-2021).
During Jérémie Blin’s term, cooperation between the two countries resumed in the fields of health, sport, culture and education. The French private sector has also started to show interest in Rwanda.
During his last visit to Kigali, the French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, appreciated the work done by the chargé d’affaires Jérémie Blin, whose term was coming to an end.
The new ambassador arrives in Kigali on 30 June. He comes to reinforce the achievements and take new initiatives for the development of Franco-Rwandan relations.
Gérard Rugambwa
