Kagame appoints Vincent Karega as ambassador to Algeria after diplomatic setbacks

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed seasoned diplomat Vincent Karega as the country's new ambassador to Algeria, signalling a new chapter for a man whose recent postings have courted controversy and diplomatic friction.

Karega's latest assignment comes after Brussels quietly rejected his nomination as Rwanda's ambassador to Belgium—an apparent snub that was never publicly explained.

The rejection followed an already turbulent diplomatic record.

In October 2022, Karega was expelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid worsening bilateral tensions, as Kinshasa accused Kigali of backing rebel movements in eastern Congo—claims Rwanda denies.

His tenure there ended not with fanfare but with diplomatic rupture.

Before that, he served in South Africa, where relations with Kigali were strained following the 2014 assassination of exiled Rwandan opposition figure Patrick Karegeya in Johannesburg.

Pretoria's discomfort over the killing, widely linked to Rwandan agents, though Kigali denies involvement, further complicated Karega's diplomatic footing.

This checkered diplomatic trail now leads to Algiers, a new but not necessarily easier post.

Algeria plays a key role in North African diplomacy and is known for its strong stances on sovereignty and foreign interference.

Karega's appointment comes at a time when Rwanda is recalibrating its diplomatic strategy, expanding ties in the Maghreb and beyond.

Karega's appointment highlights Rwanda's continued trust in him despite previous setbacks.

Algeria offers Karega a chance to reset. Whether he can do so without history repeating itself remains to be seen.