PM Ngirente sworn in as new mandate begins
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente takes oath of Office on Wednesday, August 14. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente took the oath of office on Wednesday, August 14, one day after President Paul Kagame reappointed him in the position.

Ngirente swore to remain loyal to the Republic Rwanda, to abide by the Constitution and strive for national unity and to "diligently fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to me.”

ALSO READ: Ngirente pledges to help 'elevate Rwanda to even greater heights'

Ngirente, 51, first became Prime Minister in August 2017.

He reappointed one day after President Kagame was sworn in for a five-year term on Sunday.

Following his reappointment, Ngirente said he was "humbled and honored” to serve another mandate, saying "I commit to continue serving our Country under your leadership and anticipate our journey to elevate Rwanda to even greater heights.”

ALSO READ: Kagame reappoints Ngirente Prime Minister

The agricultural economist is Rwanda's 11th Prime Minister after the 1962 Independence and the sixth after 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Following the appointment of the Prime Minister, President Kagame has 15 days to appoint members of the Cabinet, according to the Constitution.

The President appoints Ministers, Ministers of State and other Cabinet members after consultation with the Prime Minister.

Ngirente was born in Gakenke District, Northern Province, in 1973.

Prior to his appointment in 2017, Ngirente worked with the World Bank Group in Washington, DC.

He had joined the World Bank 2011 as an advisor to the Executive Director in charge of 20 African countries, before being promoted to senior advisor in 2017.

Prior to joining the World Bank, he had served in senior positions in the Rwandan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

Ngirente holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) in Belgium.

He also holds two post-graduate degrees, one in Financial Risk Management from Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis of Brussels and another in Agriculture Economics from UCL.

He completed his undergraduate studies at the National University of Rwanda (now University of Rwanda), where he later became a faculty member.