The outgoing British High Commissioner to Rwanda Benedict Llewellyn-Jones during a farewell visit to President Paul Kagame at Urugiro Village
The British government has named William Gelling the new High Commissioner to Rwanda. Gelling comes to replace Benedict Llewellyn-Jones who has been in Kigali for the last three years.
According to a statement from the British government, Jones will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
The new High Commissioner was up to recently the Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary, advising him on the Middle East, Africa, the UN and the Commonwealth.
He previously also led the team dealing with negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme; was posted to Baghdad as Liaison Officer between the British Embassy and the Multinational Military Headquarters among many other appointments
Gelling received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013 for services to British foreign policy.
On his appointment as British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Mr Gelling has said: “I am delighted to have been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Rwanda.”
He added that it was a privilege to have the opportunity to strengthen relations between the UK and Rwanda at such an important time.
“I look forward to building on the growing links between the two countries to further our shared economic, political, and security interests,” he said
Meanwhile, the outgoing High Commissioner Llewellyn-Jones paid a farewell visit to President Paul Kagame at his Urugwiro village office where he promised more cooperation between his government and the government of Rwanda
He said he would continue to raise awareness among his countrymen to uphold the relationship that the two peoples are enjoying. He said that after visiting Nyanza district during his stay in Rwanda, he realised that there is huge potential for exchange between the two countries.
The outgoing High commissioner emphasized that there is good bilateral relationship between the two countries, but also between the people of UK and Rwanda.
He also said that he was happy with how Rwanda utilized the aid that was given to it by the UK especially in the areas of education and health where the number of school going children tremendously increased and also maternal and child deaths reduced.