KEY POINTS
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Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as the new prime minister, replacing Edouard Ngirente.
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Nsengiyumva, a central bank official with a PhD in economics, was previously convicted of corruption but was pardoned by Kagame in 2023.
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The appointment is seen as part of Kagame’s ongoing strategy to blend technocratic expertise with political loyalty.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, the deputy governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, as the country’s new prime minister, replacing long-serving Edouard Ngirente in a move that signals both continuity and change in Kigali’s executive leadership.
The announcement was made late Wednesday via the government’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, though no specific reason was provided for the departure of Ngirente, who had held the position since 2017.
“This journey has been deeply enriching,” Ngirente wrote in a farewell message posted on his personal X account, thanking President Kagame for the opportunity to serve.
Dr. Nsengiyumva brings with him an extensive background in economics and public policy, having earned a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. His previous roles include serving as permanent secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, a senior economist for the UK’s Office of Rail and Road, and most recently as deputy central bank governor—a post he assumed earlier this year.
New Prime Minister Once Convicted for Corruption, Later Pardoned by Kagame
Nsengiyumva’s career has not been without controversy. In 2008, during his tenure at the education ministry, he was arrested and later convicted of corruption charges, according to the state-owned New Times newspaper. However, in March 2023, he was among 380 individuals pardoned by President Kagame in what the government described as a broad effort to foster reconciliation and second chances.
“Everyone deserves an opportunity to redeem themselves when the circumstances are right,” a senior government official said anonymously, reflecting the administration’s position on the appointment.
While no official comment has been made by the government beyond the announcement, political observers in Kigali believe the reshuffle is part of Kagame’s strategy to inject fresh energy into government while consolidating loyal technocrats ahead of critical policy years. Rwanda, which held its last elections in 2024, returned Kagame to office with 99.18% of the vote, reaffirming his over two-decade-long grip on power.
Dr. Nsengiyumva’s new role places him at the helm of Rwanda’s domestic administration during a crucial phase marked by continued economic recovery efforts, regional integration programs, and ambitions to position Kigali as a continental hub for innovation and diplomacy.
Analysts also note that the appointment sends a signal to Rwanda’s political and diplomatic partners that President Kagame remains committed to meritocracy, even if it involves rehabilitated figures with controversial pasts.
As Rwanda prepares to host upcoming regional summits and pushes forward its Vision 2050 development agenda, the role of the prime minister in implementing daily government operations will be central to maintaining the country’s trajectory of stability and growth.
