Charles Murigande
Encyclopedia
Charles Murigande is a Rwanda
n politician, currently serving as Minister of Education.
Murigande was born in Butare
, Rwanda
. In 1960 following the civil strife that preceded Rwanda's independence, his family fled to Burundi
, where he grew up as refugee. He did his primary, secondary and part of his university education
in Burundi. He did his graduate and post-graduate studies
in Belgium where he obtained in 1986 (with the Greatest Distinction/Sum Cum Laude
), a Ph.D in Mathematics from the Facultés Universitaires Notre Dame de la Paix, in Namur.
From 1986 to 1988 he worked as a scientific adviser to the Director General of the Geographical Institute of Burundi (IGEBU) and was at the same time Head of the Computing Center of the Institute.
He joined Howard University
, Washington D.C., U.S.A in January 1989 as a Post-doctoral
fellow, where he later became an Assistant Professor
and Head of the Biostatistical Division of College of Medicine.
Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda
which claimed about one million lives, Murigande abandoned his academic career at Howard University and go back to Rwanda to contribute to the reconstruction of his country. During the Rwandan Civil War
, he was the Spokesperson of the Rwandan Patriotic Front
(RPF) in the United States.
Since 1994, Murigande has served in the following positions:
- From September 1994 to August 1995, Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs;
- From September 1995 to March 1997, Minister of Transport and Communications;
- From April 1997 to May 1998, Rector of the National University of Rwanda
;
- Murigande was elected Secretary General of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) on February 15, 1998 and was reelected on December 23, 2002.
- On November 15, 2002, Murigande became Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Regional Cooperation.
After more than five years as Foreign Minister, Murigande was moved to the position of Minister of Governmental Affairs in the government named on March 8, 2008. He was moved to the post of Minister of Education on July 26, 2009.
During his academic life, Murigande has published several papers in international peer-reviewed
Scientific Journals
.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n politician, currently serving as Minister of Education.
Murigande was born in Butare
Butare
Butare is a city in the Southern Province of Rwanda and capital of Huye district. It was the capital of the former Butare Province, Rwanda, that was dissolved on January 1, 2006....
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. In 1960 following the civil strife that preceded Rwanda's independence, his family fled to Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, where he grew up as refugee. He did his primary, secondary and part of his university education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in Burundi. He did his graduate and post-graduate studies
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
in Belgium where he obtained in 1986 (with the Greatest Distinction/Sum Cum Laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
), a Ph.D in Mathematics from the Facultés Universitaires Notre Dame de la Paix, in Namur.
From 1986 to 1988 he worked as a scientific adviser to the Director General of the Geographical Institute of Burundi (IGEBU) and was at the same time Head of the Computing Center of the Institute.
He joined Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, Washington D.C., U.S.A in January 1989 as a Post-doctoral
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...
fellow, where he later became an Assistant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and Head of the Biostatistical Division of College of Medicine.
Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
which claimed about one million lives, Murigande abandoned his academic career at Howard University and go back to Rwanda to contribute to the reconstruction of his country. During the Rwandan Civil War
Rwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
, he was the Spokesperson of the Rwandan Patriotic Front
Rwandan Patriotic Front
The Rwandan Patriotic Front abbreviated as RPF is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. It governs in a coalition with other parties...
(RPF) in the United States.
Since 1994, Murigande has served in the following positions:
- From September 1994 to August 1995, Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs;
- From September 1995 to March 1997, Minister of Transport and Communications;
- From April 1997 to May 1998, Rector of the National University of Rwanda
National University of Rwanda
The National University of Rwanda is the largest university in Rwanda. It is located at in the city of Butare and was established in 1963 by the government in cooperation with the Congregation of the Dominicans from the Province of Quebec.When it was established, the NUR had three divisions The...
;
- Murigande was elected Secretary General of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) on February 15, 1998 and was reelected on December 23, 2002.
- On November 15, 2002, Murigande became Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
and Regional Cooperation.
After more than five years as Foreign Minister, Murigande was moved to the position of Minister of Governmental Affairs in the government named on March 8, 2008. He was moved to the post of Minister of Education on July 26, 2009.
During his academic life, Murigande has published several papers in international peer-reviewed
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
Scientific Journals
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
.