Clementine Mukeka

Clementine is from Kigali, Rwanda. After fleeing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as a child, she grew up in France and returned to Rwanda more than two decades later. A former refugee and first-generation college graduate, she has since built a career in public service spanning diplomacy, governance, and international development. Most recently, Clementine served as Permanent Secretary at Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where she oversaw the country’s diplomatic network and international partnerships. Before that, she worked as a Trade Advisor with USAID Rwanda, supporting programs that expanded trade, created jobs, and strengthened regional integration across East Africa. Returning to Rwanda as an adult transformed the way she thinks about public service. Having experienced both displacement and reintegration, she is particularly interested in how countries rebuild trust, strengthen institutions, and create opportunities for future generations. At SPIA, she hopes to better understand how governments can respond to these challenges while earning the trust of the people they serve. This past summer, Clementine balanced two major life milestones: moving to Princeton as a Fulbright scholar and welcoming a new baby to her family.