President Paul Kagame on Friday, October 16, received letters of credence from five newly appointed diplomatic representatives at Urugwiro Village, formally accrediting them to represent their countries and the European Union in Rwanda.
The envoys were Henrik Nilsson of Sweden, Huh Junga of the Republic of Korea, Tinyiko George Hlungwane of South Africa, Jérémie Blin of the European Union and El Houssein Ould Nagi of Mauritania.
Hlungwane’s accreditation restores South Africa’s ambassador-level representation in Rwanda after the departure of his predecessor, Mandisi Bongani Mpahlwa, in late 2024. Mpahlwa had arrived in Rwanda in 2020.
Blin, meanwhile, takes up the EU’s top diplomatic role in Rwanda after replacing Belén Calvo Uyarra, who completed her tenure. Before his appointment, Blin served as France’s ambassador to Burundi and as chargé d’affaires at the French Embassy in Rwanda.
The European Union works with Rwanda in areas including trade, investment, education, governance and sustainable development.
Ould Nagi will represent Mauritania from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while the other four diplomatic representatives are based in Kigali.
The presentation of letters of credence is the formal step through which a head of state accredits a newly appointed ambassador or diplomatic representative to serve in the host country.
