Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed economist Justin Nsengiyumva as the new Prime Minister, marking a key leadership change after the exit of Édouard Ngirente, who held the position for eight years.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Rwandese Government Communications Office, which said, “His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has today appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Prime Minister.”

The move comes just months after Nsengiyumva was named Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda in February 2025.7

Nsengiyumva brings over 20 years of experience in economics and public service, with a career spanning senior roles both in Rwanda and the United Kingdom.

He previously worked as a Senior Economic Advisor in the UK Government’s Office of Rail and Road and also served at the UK Department for Work and Pensions as an economist.

In Rwanda, Nsengiyumva has held influential government positions, including Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 2005 to 2008, and later at the Ministry of Education.

During his time at the Education Ministry in 2008, he oversaw Rwanda’s major transition from French to English as the language of instruction in schools.

Ngirente, who was appointed Prime Minister in 2017, expressed gratitude to Kagame for the opportunity to lead the government for nearly a decade.

In a message shared on X, he said, “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.”

“Mr. President, I wish to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity you gave me to serve my country, and for being such an inspiring mentor throughout this journey. It's a chapter I’ll always carry with pride,” he added.

Nsengiyumva now steps into the role at a time when Rwanda is focused on advancing economic growth, education reforms and regional cooperation, with his extensive background in both national and international economic policy expected to shape the next phase of the country’s development.