List of presidents of Rwanda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Rwanda |
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![]() Presidential Standard
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Style | Mr President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
Residence | Village Urugwiro |
Seat | Kigali |
Appointer | Popular vote |
Term length | Five years,
renewable
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Constituting instrument | Constitution of Rwanda (2003) |
Formation | 28 January 1961 |
First holder | Dominique Mbonyumutwa |
Salary | US$85,000 annually |
Website | Official Website: https://www.gov.rw/president |
The President of Rwanda is the country's main leader. This person is both the head of state (the symbolic leader) and the head of the government. The office was created in 1961 during the Rwandan Revolution.
The president is chosen by the people in an election every seven years. The president also picks the prime minister and other members of the government. So far, four people have served as President of Rwanda. The current president is Paul Kagame, who started his term on April 22, 2000.
Contents
Presidential Term Limits in Rwanda
Originally, the Constitution of Rwanda said a president could only serve two terms. However, in 2015, there was a special vote called a constitutional referendum. This vote changed the rules. It allowed Paul Kagame to run for a third seven-year term. After that, he could also run for two more five-year terms.
Leaders of Rwanda: A List of Presidents
This section lists the people who have served as President of Rwanda since 1961.
- Political parties
Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu) National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
- Status
Denotes acting president
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Ethnic group | Political party | Prime minister(s) | ||||
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Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||||
Republic of Rwanda (part of Ruanda-Urundi) | |||||||||||
— | ![]() |
Dominique Mbonyumutwa![]() (1921–1986) |
— | 28 January 1961 | 26 October 1961 | 271 days | Hutu | Parmehutu | Kayibanda | ||
1 | ![]() |
Grégoire Kayibanda (1924–1976) |
1961 | 26 October 1961 | 1 July 1962 | 248 days | Hutu | Parmehutu | Himself | ||
Republic of Rwanda (independent country) | |||||||||||
(1) | ![]() |
Grégoire Kayibanda (1924–1976) |
1965 1969 |
1 July 1962 | 5 July 1973 (Removed from power) |
11 years, 4 days | Hutu | Parmehutu | Position abolished | ||
2 | ![]() |
Juvénal Habyarimana (1937–1994) |
1978 1983 1988 |
5 July 1973 | 6 April 1994 (Died in office) |
20 years, 275 days | Hutu | MRND / Military |
Position abolished (until 1991) Nsanzimana Nsengiyaremye Uwilingiyimana |
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Vacant (6 April 1994 – 8 April 1994) | |||||||||||
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Théodore Sindikubwabo![]() (1928–1998) |
— | 8 April 1994 | 19 July 1994 (Removed from office) |
102 days | Hutu | MRND | Kambanda | ||
3 | ![]() |
Pasteur Bizimungu (born 1950) |
— | 19 July 1994 | 23 March 2000 (Resigned) |
5 years, 248 days | Hutu | RPF | Twagiramungu Rwigema Makuza |
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4 | ![]() |
Paul Kagame (born 1957) |
— | 24 March 2000![]() |
22 April 2000 | 25 years, 124 days | Tutsi | RPF | Makuza Habumuremyi Murekezi Ngirente |
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2003 2010 2017 2024 |
22 April 2000 | Incumbent |
Timeline of Rwandan Presidents
This timeline shows when each president served in office.

Latest Presidential Election
The most recent election for President of Rwanda was the 2024 Rwandan general election. Here are the results:
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
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Paul Kagame | Rwandan Patriotic Front | 8,822,794 | 99.18 | |
Frank Habineza | Democratic Green Party | 44,479 | 0.50 | |
Philippe Mpayimana | Independent | 28,466 | 0.32 | |
Total | 8,895,739 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 8,895,739 | 99.86 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 12,137 | 0.14 | ||
Total votes | 8,907,876 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 9,071,157 | 98.20 | ||
Source: NEC |
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Ruanda para niños
- Politics of Rwanda
- List of kings of Rwanda
- Vice President of Rwanda
- Prime Minister of Rwanda
- List of colonial governors of Ruanda-Urundi
- List of colonial residents of Rwanda