The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Soraya Hakuziyaremye as the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), marking a significant transition in the country’s financial leadership.
Dr. Hakuziyaremye, who previously served as Deputy Governor and Vice-Chairperson at BNR, now takes the helm as the central bank’s top official.
With a distinguished career spanning government, finance, and international relations, she brings extensive expertise in financial sector development, risk management, and strategic policy-making.
Prior to her tenure at BNR, Dr. Hakuziyaremye served as Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry from October 2018 to March 2021. Her leadership in this role was instrumental in shaping Rwanda’s trade policies and fostering economic growth.
Her experience in the financial sector includes a role as Senior Vice President and Credit Risk Manager at ING Bank in the United Kingdom, where she managed credit risks for financial institutions and advised on high-value international finance deals. She also worked at BNP Paribas Group/Fortis Bank and The Bank of New York Mellon, focusing on audit, risk management, and corporate actions in global asset management.
In addition to her banking experience, Dr. Hakuziyaremye served as Senior Advisor to the Minister at Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 2012 to 2014. During this time, she played a key role in Rwanda’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Dr. Hakuziyaremye holds a Master’s in Business Engineering from Solvay Business School in Belgium and a Post-graduate degree in International Management from Thunderbird Graduate School in the United States. She also completed the Executive Public Leaders Program at Oxford University in 2024.
Beyond her professional roles, she co-founded the Brussels-Africa Hub and serves as a board member of Ngali Holdings.
As Governor, Dr. Hakuziyaremye is expected to lead BNR through Rwanda’s transition to a digital economy, ensuring stability and innovation in the financial sector.
