Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye was appointed Rwanda’s Minister of Environment on 24 July 2025 by President Paul Kagame. Before her appointment, she led the land restoration programs across Africa at the World Resources Institute, overseeing initiatives such as Restore Local.

She holds a PhD in Geography from Clark University in Massachusetts, where her research garnered the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship for her work on forest cover change in western Rwanda. Her earlier academic credentials include a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Rwanda. 

Arakwiye is known for her deep experience in environmental research and restoration, having worked with Conservation International, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and WRI.