After serving more than three years as the president of the Senate, Augustin Iyamuremye announced his resignation from his position on December 8, citing health reasons.

Following his resignation, the Senate convened on December 9, to approve his resignation from his capacity as the president and as a senator, hence, declaring the office of the Senate President vacant.

The senators took in and approved his decision by 25 votes.

In his farewell speech, Iyamuremye thanked the plenary for quickly accepting his resignation and noted that due to the respect he owes his family and medical confidentiality, he won’t disclose any details of his sickness.

However, he said, "I cannot hide from you that it has been quite some time that I am suffering from a non-communicable disease and it has, unfortunately, attracted opportunistic infections which has also slowed my performance at work.”

He thanked medical doctors at King Faisal Hospital and Rwanda Military Hospital for following up on his health and the medical care they continue to provide.

"I, therefore, took the decision to resign because you did not elect me to lead while being bedridden or not being able to report to work. I informed our government’s leadership and sought advice from different leaders but I took the decision on my own,” he told the senators.

Iyamuremye thanked the senators for the support and the good working environment he experienced while carrying out his duties.

He served for more than three years as the Senate President after being appointed by President Paul Kagame on October 17, 2019. He has a political career for over four decades with service in different Cabinet portfolios, including Agriculture, Information, and Foreign Affairs.

What’s next and how will he be replaced?

According to the 2018 organic law determining the functioning of the Senate in its Article 20 that governs the replacement of members of the Bureau of the senate, a sitting devoted to replacing a member of the Senate is convened after 30 days of resignation and it is presided over by the President of the Republic who also supervises the election.

The person elected to fill the vacant seat first completes the term of office of the predecessor.

In this case, the Vice-President of the Senate in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Espérance Nyirasafari will serve in the interim until a new President of the Senate is elected, as provided under Article 85.

Senators react

Alvera Mukabaramba, vice president in charge of administration and finance, thanked Iyamuremye as a person they worked together closely in the Bureau in overseeing all activities of the Senate.

"I wish you a quick recovery and may God help you in your journey,” she told him.

Juvenal Nkusi also expressed gratitude for the work done by Iyamuremye and noted that it is honourable for him to take such a decision in the interest of the country and the bureau he was heading.

"In my opinion, I have known him as a person who is firm in taking decisions and knows when to take them. We did not see this coming but we thank you for this step which you took as an expert in politics and leadership,” he added.