Abidjan (ILO News) – Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa took up office as the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) new Regional Director for Africa and Assistant Director-General, on 1 October 2023.

Rwanyindo, a Rwandan national, was previously Minister of the Civil Service and Labor in Rwanda, contributing to national employment and labour policies and initiatives. In this role she took an active part in promoting decent work and social justice.

She holds a bachelor's degree in law, from the National University of Rwanda, and a master's degree in law from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Between 1998 and 2004, Kayirangwa was legal advisor and credit manager at the Commercial Bank of Rwanda, which later became I&M Bank Rwanda Limited.

In 2004, she was appointed Judge of the High Court of Rwanda and in 2013 was appointed Vice-President of the Commercial High Court.

Kayirangwa is the ILO's eighth Regional Director for Africa. She follows Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon from Nigeria, who held the position from November 2017 to July 2023.