Vincent Biruta


Vincent Biruta is a Rwandan physician and politician, who is currently Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed in November 2019. Previously, he served as the Minister for Environment in the Rwandan cabinet, since 31 August 2017. Immediately prior to his appointment to the environment docket, he served as the Minister of Natural resources, since 24 July 2014.

Background and education

He was born 1958. He is a trained physician. He also holds post-graduate qualifications in planning and management of health services in developing countries, obtained from Université libre de Bruxelles, in Belgium.

Career

Dr. Biruta has a long civil services record in Rwanda, post the 1994 genocide. From 1997 until 1999, he served as the Minister of Health. From 1999 until 2000, he served as the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications.
He was the President of the National Transition Assembly from January 2000 until 2003. From August 2003, until October 2011, he was the President of the Rwandan Senate, the upper chamber of the bicameral Parliament of Rwanda.
In December 2011, he was named the Minister of Education, serving in that capacity until July 2014, when he was named Minister of Natural Resources.