Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as the new Prime Minister, replacing Dr. Édouard Ngirente, who has served in the role since 2017. The announcement was made on Wednesday, July 24, by the Rwandan Government Communications Office.
“His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has today appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Prime Minister,” the official statement read.
Dr. Nsengiyumva brings a wealth of experience to the position, with a career spanning over 20 years in both Rwanda and the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Leicester and has served in various leadership and advisory roles across government and economic sectors.
Before his appointment, Dr. Nsengiyumva served as Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda since February 2025. Internationally, he was a Senior Economic Advisor in the UK Government’s Office of Rail and Road and worked as an economist with the UK Department for Work and Pensions.
In Rwanda, his previous roles include Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 2005 to 2008 and later at the Ministry of Education in 2008, where he was instrumental in the national transition from French to English as the language of instruction in schools.
His appointment marks a new chapter in Rwanda’s leadership, with expectations high for him to advance the country’s economic and development agenda.
Outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Édouard Ngirente expressed gratitude to President Kagame and the Rwandan people for his eight-year tenure, describing it as a period of personal and national growth.
“I am so grateful to H.E. Paul Kagame for the honour of serving as the Prime Minister of our beloved Rwanda for the last 8 years. This journey has been deeply enriching, filled with growth, guidance, and purpose,” Ngirente said in a message shared on X.
Dr. Nsengiyumva now steps into the role with the responsibility of steering Rwanda through its next phase of transformation and regional leadership.
