Anastase Gasana
Encyclopedia
Dr. Anastase Gasana is a Rwandan political figure and diplomat.
Gasana was a university professor before entering politics. Gasana was appointed as a Minister for Foreign Affairs]] of the Government of Rwanda for the first time in 1993 and signed Rwanda's accords with Tutsi
rebels in Arusha
, Tanzania
. After the Rwandan Patriotic Front
under Paul Kagame
had taken over the country following the Rwandan genocide, Gasana was appointed as Ambassador in Washington, USA, but did not take office as of November 1994, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs again.
He continued to be a leading member of the Rwandan government for over a decade. As foreign minister, it was left to Gasana to defend Rwanda's reaction to the genocide and its involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
civil war to the international community. He was notable for blaming many of Rwanda's problems on the United Nations, and denied that Rwanda was committing war crimes in Congo. He remained Minister for Foreign Affairs until a February 1999 cabinet reshuffle. He then became a minister in the office of the President until 2001, when he became Ambassador to the United Nations. He left that position in 2003 and has not held any major post since then.
Gasana was a university professor before entering politics. Gasana was appointed as a Minister for Foreign Affairs]] of the Government of Rwanda for the first time in 1993 and signed Rwanda's accords with Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
rebels in Arusha
Arusha
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. After 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...
under Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
had taken over the country following the Rwandan genocide, Gasana was appointed as Ambassador in Washington, USA, but did not take office as of November 1994, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs again.
He continued to be a leading member of the Rwandan government for over a decade. As foreign minister, it was left to Gasana to defend Rwanda's reaction to the genocide and its involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
civil war to the international community. He was notable for blaming many of Rwanda's problems on the United Nations, and denied that Rwanda was committing war crimes in Congo. He remained Minister for Foreign Affairs until a February 1999 cabinet reshuffle. He then became a minister in the office of the President until 2001, when he became Ambassador to the United Nations. He left that position in 2003 and has not held any major post since then.