President Kagame Appoints Justin Nsengiyumva as Rwanda’s New Prime Minister

In a surprise cabinet reshuffle, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has named Justin Nsengiyumva, a seasoned economist and former deputy governor of the central bank, as the country’s new prime minister. Nsengiyumva replaces Edouard Ngirente, who had held the position since 2017.

The announcement was made late Wednesday through an official post on X (formerly Twitter) by Rwanda’s government spokesperson. No official reason was provided for the leadership change, and President Kagame has yet to comment publicly on the decision.

Departing Prime Minister Ngirente, while not disclosing details of his exit, took to social media to express appreciation, stating: “This journey has been deeply enriching.”

Justin Nsengiyumva brings with him an impressive résumé, including a PhD in Economics from the University of Leicester and prior experience working with the British government. His technocratic background positions him as a strategic choice to steer Rwanda’s economic and governance agenda.

As Prime Minister, Nsengiyumva will oversee the day-to-day operations of the government, playing a key role in implementing Kagame’s long-term development vision. The appointment comes nearly a year after Kagame’s landslide re-election in the 2024 presidential election, where he secured 99.18% of the vote, extending his leadership of Rwanda which began in 2000.

Political analysts and international observers are now closely monitoring how Nsengiyumva’s leadership will influence Rwanda’s economic policy, governance reforms, and regional diplomacy in the years to come.