In judicial appointments made on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, President Kagame also named Justice Alphonse Hitiyaremye as Vice President of the Supreme Court.
The appointment of Supreme Court judges is carried out in accordance with Article 154 of the Rwandan Constitution, which stipulates that the Head of State shall appoint judges following consultations with the Cabinet and the High Council of the Judiciary.
The President then submits a list of candidates, equal to the number of vacant posts, to the Senate for approval.
Until her appointment, Mukantaganzwa served as the Chairperson of the Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC), a position she assumed in December 2019.
She is renowned for her central role and contributions to the success of the Gacaca Jurisdiction, which was tasked with handling cases related to the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. She led the institution from 2003 until 2012, concluding its mandate and presenting a comprehensive report to the government.
Mukantaganzwa was also one of the commissioners who drafted the 2003 Rwandan Constitution.
The 60-year-old holds a Master's degree in Peace and International Relations from the Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR) at Hekima University College, part of Hekima University in Kenya. Additionally, she pursued a legal studies course at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), where she earned a law degree.
On the other hand, Justice Hitiyaremye has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Rwanda since 2019.
Prior to this, he held various positions within the Government of Rwanda, including Judge of the Court of Appeal (2018â€"2019), Judge of the Supreme Court before the 2018 reform (2013â€"2018), Deputy Prosecutor General (2006â€"2013), Inspector General of Prosecution (2004â€"2006), Regional Chief Prosecutor (Procureur de la République) (2000â€"2004), Human Rights Officer in the Ministry of Justice (1999), Advisor to the Minister of Justice (1998), and Communication, Documentation, and Legal Information Officer at the Rwandan Embassy in Paris (1996â€"1997).
Justice Hitiyaremye holds a Master's in International Public Law from Kiev State University (1995, Ukraine).
He has participated in various trainings, including one on the legal aspects of economic reconstruction organized by the International Development Law Institute, conflict resolution (TPN, Third Party Neutral) training organized by the Canadian Institute of Conflict Resolution, an internship in the Human Rights domain at ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and Strasbourg (France), and a program on the United States Court System organized by The National Center for State Courts (USA).
In addition to his role as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Hitiyaremye also heads the Bureau of the Anti-Corruption Committee within the Judiciary of Rwanda.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/domitilla-mukantaganzwa-appointed-president-of-the-supreme-court
