President Paul Kagame appointed Justin Nsengiyumva as the new Prime Minister of Rwanda, succeeding Édouard Ngirente, who had held the position since 2017. The appointment, made in accordance with Article 116 of the Constitution, marks a new chapter in the country’s leadership, placing an accomplished economist and public policy expert at the forefront of national governance. ALSO READ: New PM pledges to advance national priorities Until his appointment, Nsengiyumva served as Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), a position he assumed in February 2025. His career reflects a rich blend of national and international experience, with a strong focus on economic policy, financial systems, and institutional reform. ALSO READ: Kagame appoints Justin Nsengiyumva as new Prime Minister Nsengiyumva’s professional journey spans over two decades, with key leadership roles both in Rwanda and the United Kingdom. He served as a Senior Economic Advisor in the UK Government’s Office of Rail and Road, where he led major policy and research initiatives that shaped the UK’s railway sector. He also worked as an economist at the UK Department for Work and Pensions, contributing to welfare reform. In Rwanda, he held top government positions, including Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education in 2008, where he played a pivotal role in the country’s transition from French to English as the language of instruction in schools. Before that, he was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 2005 to 2008, leading Rwanda’s trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional blocs such as EAC, COMESA, and ICGLR. He also worked in the nonprofit sector as Policy and Research Development Manager at Refugee Action in the UK and served as a national trustee for the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit. Nsengiyumva holds a PhD in economics from the University of Leicester, with research focused on financial development, government ownership of banks, and foreign capital inflows. He earned his Master’s degree in Economic Policy and Management from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. In addition to his civil service, Nsengiyumva has held governance roles on the boards of key national institutions including RwandAir, and the Rwanda Revenue Authority. He also served as a school governor and has contributed to several academic journals as an editor.
