Aloysie Cyanzayire

Aloysie Cyanzayire (born 11 February 1964) is a Rwandan lawyer, judge and public servant. She was the first woman to serve as President of the Supreme Court of Rwanda, and has been a justice of the Supreme Court since August 2018. She has also served as Chief Ombudsman of Rwanda. Cyanzayire was born and grew up in Ruhango District in the Southern Province, the eldest child in a Christian family whose parents were farmers. She attended one of the first science schools for girls in Rwanda, and has spoken about her faith publicly. She earned a law degree from the National University of Rwanda in 1989, and served for a year as a judge of the Court of First Instance. She then studied at the International Section of the National School of Magistrates in Paris from 1991 to 1993. During the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi she was a judge in Butare, and afterwards she took in three orphans, two of them the children of her brother-in-law, who had been killed in the genocide. From 1995 to 2000, she held several posts at the Ministry of Justice, as Director of Public Prosecutions and Relations with the Judicial Services, Director of Legal Drafting, and finally Secretary-General of the Ministry. In December 2003 the Rwandan Senate elected her the fifth President of the Supreme Court and its first woman in that role, and she served a full eight-year term while also chairing the High Council of the Judiciary. In 2014 she succeeded Tito Rutaremara as Chief Ombudsman, a post she held until 2017. In 2018 the cabinet reappointed her as a Supreme Court justice. She has also received training in development and competition law, in drafting and interpreting legislation, and in mediation. Quotes I’m honored to serve the country once again in the judicial sector. I’m looking forward to working in collaboration with the existing team to offer fair judgment to the population https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/155611/News/ex-ombudsman-cyanzayire-returns-to-supreme-court ( The New Times , Thursday, July 12, 2018) Before I was appointed Chief Justice, I never imagined that a woman could hold the office that had always been the preserve of men. But why not, since our brains work the same way? INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW Building a Global Network of Legal Changemakers( September 21, 2026) It is up to women to believe in, and demonstrate their abilities, and others will no longer have reason to doubt you. INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW Building a Global Network of Legal Changemakers( September 21, 2026) For young women lawyers, I urge you to be guided by a spirit of excellence, seek satisfaction in the outcome of your work, and not in the material interests of your job. INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW Building a Global Network of Legal Changemakers( September 21, 2026) In whatever I do, I aim to do it to the best of my ability. I use all my strength when accomplishing a task. All jobs are supposed to be respected and it’s important to achieve anything you aim at. Every job is valuable. I used to think I would become a nun – Ombudsman Aloysie Cyanzayire the newtimes( September 21, 2026) Your spirit of excellence will see you through every challenge. INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW Building a Global Network of Legal Changemakers( September 21, 2026) The principle that guides me ... is to do the right thing so that my conscience does not blame me. INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW Building a Global Network of Legal Changemakers( September 21, 2026) We may not succeed in ending corruption but we can do everything we can to significantly reduce it. Ombudsman outlines plans to intensify corruption fight the newtimes(September 21, 2026) What is important is not to compare ourselves with others, what is important is to assess what we are doing to reduce corruption. Ombudsman outlines plans to intensify corruption fight the newtimes(September 21, 2026) Teaching the right values to young people is key in fighting against corruption. Ombudsman outlines plans to intensify corruption fight the newtimes(September 21, 2026) The fight against corruption can’t be left to government institutions only. Ombudsman outlines plans to intensify corruption fight the newtimes(September 21, 2026) External Links Category:Women from Rwanda