After 22 years in service, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has stated that he is looking forwards to his retirement and the transfer of power.
In Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, at a joint press conference with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, Kagame stated that the ruling party is actively discussing a succession plan because his retirement is “inevitable.”
Mr. Kagame claimed that he was less concerned with selecting his successor than he was with cultivating a climate that would produce leaders.
“We have been having this discussion within our [ruling] party since 2010 but circumstances, challenges and history of Rwanda tend to dictate certain things,” he said.
He said his retirement is an issue that has to be discussed “sooner or later”.
“I’m sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I’m looking forward to that,” Mr Kagame said.
Days have passed since the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), the country’s ruling party, elected its first female vice-chairperson.
President Kagame kept his post as chairman. Since 1998, he has been the party’s leader.
Mr. Kagame has previously discussed his impending retirement. He claimed he had no issues being a typical old citizen in December 2022.
Since 2000, Mr. Kagame has presided over the country of East Africa. A contentious vote in 2015 repealed the president’s two-term constitutional limit.
The president announced to a French TV station last year that he would run for office once more in 2024.
