Following the appointment of Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Rwanda’s new Prime Minister, President Paul Kagame unveiled a slightly reshuffled cabinet, introducing four new members while retaining a majority of the previous team.
The new appointments align with Rwanda’s constitutional requirement to establish a new cabinet after the installation of a Prime Minister.
Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye was named the new Minister of Environment. Before her appointment, she was leading land restoration initiatives at the World Resources Institute (WRI), focusing on continental programs like Restore Local.
A recipient of the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship, she earned her PhD in Geography from Clark University in Massachusetts, with a specialization in forest cover change in western Rwanda.
Dominique Habimana took over as Minister of Local Government, bringing recent experience from his role as Secretary General of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), a position he held from June 2024.
Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye returned to the Ministry of Infrastructure as Minister of State, a role he previously held between 2017 and 2019, following a diplomatic posting as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.
Telesphore Ndabamenye, the former Director General of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), was appointed Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources.
Following these changes, Kagame and Prime Minister Nsengiyumva on July 24, focused on aligning national priorities.
Nsengiyumva, an economist with a PhD and former Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, pledged to advance Rwanda’s strategic goals with humility and dedication.
“I am grateful for the trust President Kagame has placed in me and committed to advancing national priorities,” he said after his appointment.
In line with Article 124 of Rwanda’s Constitution, the resignation or replacement of a Prime Minister prompts the dissolution of the entire Cabinet, allowing for new appointments.
The President appoints ministers and other cabinet members in consultation with the Prime Minister, and the new cabinet must be formed within 15 days of the Prime Minister’s appointment.
Nsengiyumva takes office at a pivotal moment as the government begins implementing the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), a five-year development blueprint launched in 2024.
The NST2 aims to elevate Rwanda’s GDP per capita from $1,040 in 2023 to $1,369 by 2029, create 1.25 million decent jobs, and double export earnings from $3.5 billion to $7.3 billion.
The strategy includes significant targets in agriculture, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Agricultural productivity is set to grow by over 50 percent through increased irrigation, better access to quality inputs, and improved livestock breeding.
The government also plans to quadruple the number of registered health workers and ensure universal access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity for all households, schools, and health facilities by 2029.
With a new Prime Minister and key additions to the cabinet, Rwanda is repositioning itself to drive forward an ambitious transformation agenda, leveraging new leadership and experienced governance to deliver its national vision.
