Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed Justin Nsengiyumva, the deputy governor of the central bank, as the country’s new prime minister, replacing Edouard Ngirente, who had served in the role since 2017. The announcement was made late Wednesday via a post on X by the office of the government spokesperson.
The statement offered no explanation for the leadership change, and President Kagame has not yet commented publicly on the decision. Outgoing Prime Minister Ngirente also did not disclose reasons for his departure but expressed gratitude to Kagame on social media, writing, “This journey has been deeply enriching.”
Nsengiyumva brings a robust academic and professional background to the role, including a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester and prior experience working with the British government.
As head of government, Rwanda’s prime minister oversees the daily operations of the administration. The surprise reshuffle comes roughly a year after Kagame secured re-election in Rwanda’s 2024 presidential election, winning 99.18% of the vote and further extending his nearly 25-year tenure in office.
Observers are now watching closely to see how Nsengiyumva’s technocratic expertise will shape Rwanda’s governance and economic direction in the years ahead.
