Kagame names new prime minister in latest changes
Government spokesperson did not say why Edouard Ngirente was dropped
Rwanda President Paul Kagame has replaced the country’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente with Central Bank Deputy Governor Justin Nsengiyumva.
The appointment of Nsengiyumva, a former British government worker who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, was announced by the office of the government spokesperson in a post on X late yesterday evening.
In the post, the government spokesperson did not say why the incumbent Prime Minister was dropped. Ngirente, who had been prime minister since 2017, thanked Kagame on X, but did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure.
“This journey has been deeply enriching. ,” Ngirente said in a short post.
In Rwanda, the prime minister is the head of government and is responsible for running the government’s day-to-day operations.
Before his work in the UK, Nsengiyumva served as permanent secretary at Rwanda’s education ministry.
In 2008, while serving in that role, he was arrested for alleged corruption and later convicted, according to the state-owned New Times newspaper.
Kagame pardoned him in March 2023 alongside 380 others in unrelated cases.
The new Prime Minister has thanked Kagame for the appointment, pledging to serve diligently.
“I pledge to serve you and Rwanda with humility and dedication under your leadership and guidance. I fully embrace the responsibility entrusted to me and remain committed to advancing our national priorities with integrity and purpose. I will give all I have in me to help you achieve your great vision for this country. Thank you so much,” he said in his acceptance post.
Rwanda last held elections in 2024 when Kagame was re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, extending his near quarter-century in office.
