President Kagame appoints Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as new Prime Minister

Jul 23, 2025 - 21:13

President Kagame Appoints Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as New Prime Minister

President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Rwanda’s new Prime Minister. Before this appointment, Dr. Nsengiyumva served as Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, a position he assumed on February 25, 2025.

He replaces Dr. Édouard Ngirente, who had held the Prime Minister’s office since 2017.

Dr. Nsengiyumva is an experienced economist with a diverse professional background. Prior to joining the National Bank of Rwanda, he worked in the United Kingdom as Senior Economic Advisor at the Office of Rail and Road from April 2016. Between April 2014 and April 2016, he served as an Economist in the Department for Work and Pensions in the UK Government.

In Rwanda, he previously held various high-level public service roles, including Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education until 2008 and Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry between June 2005 and March 2008. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Policy and Research Officer with Refugee Action from June 2009 to December 2013.

Dr. Nsengiyumva holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Leicester (2011–2015), a Master’s degree in Economic Policy and Management from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Constitutional Implications of the Appointment

According to Rwanda’s Constitution, when the Prime Minister resigns or is replaced for any reason, the entire cabinet is considered to have resigned. However, the outgoing government continues to perform day-to-day duties until a new government is formed and sworn in.