Marcel Gatsinzi

Marcel Gatsinzi is a Rwandan soldier and politician, who is the current Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs. Gatsinzi also served as Rwanda's Minister of Defence from 2002 to 2010. Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs from 2010 to 2013.

An ethnic Rwanda from Butare, Gatsinzi is a former member of the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), which was the national army prior to the conquest of Rwanda by the RPF following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. At the time of the disbanding of FAR his rank was Colonel.

During the genocide, from April 7 to April 17, 1994 he served as Chief of Staff of FAR.

Gatsinzi was appointed Minister of Defence on 15 November 2002, following the removal of Emmanuel Habyarimana. He currently holds the rank of General in the Rwandan Defence Forces. General Gatsinzi Marcel was born on January 9, 1948 in Nyarugenge District of Kigali City, the capital of the Republic of Rwanda. He started his formal education at college Saint Andre Nyamirambo-Kigali, where he graduated with a diploma in 1968. His military career began on 01st Augst 1968 at Kigali Military Academy, where he was commissioned on 31 March 1970 to the rank of second Lieutenant.

He pursued his military career courses in Belgium at Heverlee(Louvain)in the School of Logistics in 1971 and in Brussels at the "Royal High Institute of Defence,formerly named War college " in 1974 till 1976 whilw at the rank of Captain. from 5 September to 20 December 2000, he pursued in the USA an accelerated course at the Institute of World Politics.

During his military career, GATSINZI Marcel was gradually promoted until the rank of General on July 2nd 2004. Beside the military assignments in the Rwandese Army, General Marcel GATSINZI (while Colonel) served in the OAU Neutral Military Observer Group set by the Organization of African Unity. that OAU NMOG was meant to moitos the cease fire during the period of the negotiations between the Gorverment and the Rwandese Patriotic Front during the Liberation War in 1990-1993. He also participated in the negotiations process

Gen.Marcel GATSINZI has held various political and military appointments with the following as his Main career Highlights: . Deputy Chief of Staff of Rwanda Patriotic Army from 1995-1997 .Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie from 1997-2000 .Secretary General of the National Security Service from 2000 to 2002 .Minister of Defence on 15 November 2002 .Re-appointed Minister of Defence on 19 October 2003 till 10 April 2010 .Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs from 2010 to 2013 General GATSINZI Marcel holds a series of honorific military medal awards