President Paul Kagame has appointed Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Prime Minister, an announcement made on July 23, 2025, in line with Article 116 of the national Constitution.
Nsengiyumva steps into the role formerly held by Dr Édouard Ngirente, who had been serving as Prime Minister since August 30, 2017.
This change in leadership comes shortly after President Kagame was sworn in for a new five-year term and had initially reappointed Ngirente in the 2024–2029 Cabinet lineup.
However, in the latest reshuffle, Nsengiyumva takes on the country’s highest administrative office. He now leads Rwanda’s government operations as the nation continues to prioritize development, stability, and forward-looking governance.
Before assuming this top administrative role, Nsengiyumva served as the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, where he was instrumental in shaping the country’s monetary policy and advancing the financial sector.
He brings to the position over two decades of experience in economics and governance, both within Rwanda and internationally. He formerly held the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, later transitioning to the Ministry of Education in the same capacity.
In both roles, he played a pivotal role in shaping national policy, contributing to trade negotiations and spearheading education reforms.
While in the United Kingdom, he served as an economist for the Department for Work and Pensions and later as an economic advisor at the Office of Rail and Road.
In early 2025, he returned to Rwanda to take up the Deputy Governor post at BNR, just months before his elevation to Prime Minister.
Academically, Nsengiyumva holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Leicester in the UK, a Master’s degree in Economic Management from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Kenya.
His blend of local and global expertise positions him well to navigate Rwanda’s development priorities in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Nsengiyumva becomes the seventh individual to hold the office of Prime Minister since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He follows in the footsteps of former premiers including Faustin Twagiramungu (July 19, 1994 – August 31, 1995), Pierre-Célestin Rwigema (August 31, 1995 – March 8, 2000) and Bernard Makuza (March 8, 2000 – October 7, 2011).
Others are Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi (October 7, 2011 – July 23, 2014), Anastase Murekezi (July 23, 2014 – August 30, 2017), and most recently, Dr. Édouard Ngirente.
Nsengiyumva is expected to guide policy implementation in alignment with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and to ensure the continuity of governance that prioritizes progress, innovation, and inclusive growth.
