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President of the Republic of Rwanda
Flag of the President of Rwanda.svg
Presidential Standard
Paul Kagame in 2014
Incumbent
Paul Kagame

since 22 April 2000
Acting: 24 March – 22 April 2000
Style Mr President
(informal)
His Excellency
(diplomatic)
Residence Village Urugwiro
Seat Kigali
Appointer Popular vote
Term length Five years,
renewable
Constituting instrument Constitution of Rwanda (2003)
Formation 28 January 1961; 64 years ago (1961-01-28)
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.

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

  Indicates a temporary assignment   Denotes acting president

List of presidents of Rwanda
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Ethnic group Political party Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
Republic of Rwanda (part of Ruanda-Urundi)
Mbonyumutwa, DominiqueDominique Mbonyumutwadouble-dagger
(1921–1986)
28 January 1961 26 October 1961 271 days Hutu Parmehutu Kayibanda
1 Grégoire Kayibanda Kayibanda, GrégoireGrégoire Kayibanda
(1924–1976)
1961 26 October 1961 1 July 1962 248 days Hutu Parmehutu Himself
Republic of Rwanda (independent country)
(1) Grégoire Kayibanda Kayibanda, GrégoireGrégoire 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 Habyarimana, JuvénalJuvénal 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
Vacant (6 April 19948 April 1994)
Sindikubwabo, ThéodoreThéodore Sindikubwabodouble-dagger
(1928–1998)
8 April 1994 19 July 1994
(Removed from office)
102 days Hutu MRND Kambanda
3 Pasteur Bizimungu Bizimungu, PasteurPasteur Bizimungu
(born 1950)
19 July 1994 23 March 2000
(Resigned)
5 years, 248 days Hutu RPF Twagiramungu
Rwigema
Makuza
4 Paul Kagame Kagame, PaulPaul Kagame
(born 1957)
24 March 2000double-dagger 22 April 2000 25 years, 124 days Tutsi RPF Makuza
Habumuremyi
Murekezi
Ngirente
2003
2010
2017
2024
22 April 2000 Incumbent

Timeline of Rwandan Presidents

This timeline shows when each president served in office.

Paul Kagame Pasteur Bizimungu Théodore Sindikubwabo Juvénal Habyarimana Grégoire Kayibanda Dominique Mbonyumutwa

Latest Presidential Election

The most recent election for President of Rwanda was the 2024 Rwandan general election. Here are the results:

Candidate Party Votes %
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Ruanda para niños

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