Latest news with #Kagame

Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Rwanda's Kagame appoints central banker as new prime minister
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame arrives at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo KIGALI - President Paul Kagame has replaced Rwanda's long-serving prime minister, naming the deputy governor of the central bank, who was once pardoned for a corruption conviction, to the role responsible for the government's day-to-day operations. The appointment of Justin Nsengiyumva, the former prime secretary at the education ministry who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, was announced by the office of the government spokesperson in a post on X late on Wednesday. The post did not say why the incumbent, Edouard Ngirente, was dropped. Ngirente, who had been prime minister since 2017, thanked Kagame on X, writing: "This journey has been deeply enriching." Kagame appointed Nsengiyumva as deputy governor at the National Bank of Rwanda earlier this year. Nsengiyumva's official biography says he has worked for the British government, including as senior economist for the Office of Rail and Road. Prior to his work in the UK, Nsengiyumva served as permanent secretary at Rwanda's education ministry. In 2008, while serving in that role, he was arrested for alleged corruption and later convicted, according to the state-owned New Times newspaper. Kagame pardoned him in March 2023 alongside 380 others in unrelated cases, the New Times reported. A Rwandan government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Rwanda last held elections in 2024 when Kagame was re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, extending his near quarter-century in office. REUTERS


Reuters
7 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Rwandan President Kagame appoints new prime minister
KIGALI, July 24 (Reuters) - Rwandan President Paul Kagame has replaced the country's prime minister, naming the deputy governor of the central bank to the role without explaining the decision. The appointment of Justin Nsengiyumva, a former British government worker who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, was announced by the office of the government spokesperson in a post on X late on Wednesday. The post did not say why the incumbent, Edouard Ngirente, was dropped. Ngirente, who had been prime minister since 2017, thanked Kagame on X, but did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure. "This journey has been deeply enriching," he said. In Rwanda, the prime minister is the head of government and is responsible for the running of the government's day-to-day operations. Rwanda last held elections in 2024 when Kagame was re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, extending his near quarter-century in office.


The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Rwandan President Kagame appoints new prime minister
KIGALI (Reuters) -Rwandan President Paul Kagame has replaced the country's prime minister, naming the deputy governor of the central bank to the role without explaining the decision. The appointment of Justin Nsengiyumva, a former British government worker who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, was announced by the office of the government spokesperson in a post on X late on Wednesday. The post did not say why the incumbent, Edouard Ngirente, was dropped. Ngirente, who had been prime minister since 2017, thanked Kagame on X, but did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure. "This journey has been deeply enriching," he said. In Rwanda, the prime minister is the head of government and is responsible for the running of the government's day-to-day operations. Rwanda last held elections in 2024 when Kagame was re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, extending his near quarter-century in office. (Reporting by Philbert Girinema; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Rwandan President Kagame appoints new prime minister
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame arrives at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo KIGALI - Rwandan President Paul Kagame has replaced the country's prime minister, naming the deputy governor of the central bank to the role without explaining the decision. The appointment of Justin Nsengiyumva, a former British government worker who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, was announced by the office of the government spokesperson in a post on X late on Wednesday. The post did not say why the incumbent, Edouard Ngirente, was dropped. Ngirente, who had been prime minister since 2017, thanked Kagame on X, but did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure. "This journey has been deeply enriching," he said. In Rwanda, the prime minister is the head of government and is responsible for the running of the government's day-to-day operations. Rwanda last held elections in 2024 when Kagame was re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, extending his near quarter-century in office. REUTERS

TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
DRC, M23 rebels pledge in Qatar to reach peace deal next month
The rebel group M23, in the latest of a series of uprisings, has controlled Goma, eastern DRC's largest city, since late January and has also made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations that it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in DRC than it has ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of DRC's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern DRC when the advance began. Qatar's minister of state for foreign affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said at a news conference Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". It was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Tshisekedi and Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. DRC had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against DRC's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. POINTS OF CONTENTION Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by DRC and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern DRC. It says DRC and M23 agree state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not give details. DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya nevertheless said on X on Saturday that the declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding that Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this".