The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has sent a goodwill message to Dr Augustin Iyamuremye, who stepped down as Senate president and member of the Upper House on Thursday due to illness, wishing him quick recovery.

A former Cabinet minister and presidential advisor, Iyamuremye, himself a PSD member, has been the Senate president since 2019.

ALSO READ: What next after Senate president Iyamuremye's resignation?

In his farewell speech to the Senate on Friday, Iyamuremye said he was suffering from a non-communicable disease, which has caused other complications, thus undermining his ability to deliver on his responsibilities.

"The Social Democratic Party expresses its gratitude to Dr Iyamuremye Augustin for his bravery, dedication and integrity in his service to our country in different duties, especially the three years he has served as President of the Senate. We wish him a quick recovery,” the party wrote their Twitter handle.

https://twitter.com/PSD_RW/status/1601128854114177024

Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s envoy to the Netherlands and a senior PSD official, added: "Dr Iyamuremye is a man of integrity who has been characterised by the love of the country and of work.

"I wish him to get better because his contribution to the building of the country is needed.”

Senator Juvenal Nkusi, another PSD stalwart, earlier Friday recognised Iyamuremye as an "experienced person in Rwandan politics and leadership.”

Meanwhile, responding to PSD’s goodwill message, Iyamuremye called out those he said were spreading falsehoods around his resignation. "I don’t wish for them to have the same health condition that I’ve, I wish for them to be liberated from ignorance and malevolence. Long live Rwanda,” he tweeted.

Iyamuremye's long political career spans over four decades having previously held a senior intelligence role during the pre-Genocide days.

Since 1994, the highly respected politician has served in different Cabinet portfolios, including Agriculture, Information, and Foreign Affairs.

A veterinary doctor by profession, he also served as a senator in the First Senate successfully completing his eight-year term. The 76-year-old also had a stint working as a presidential advisor.

Iyamuremye returned to the Senate as a presidential appointee in October 2019 before going on to be elected as the chamber’s president, effectively becoming the country’s number two in official hierarchy.

Shortly before he rejoined the Senate, he served as the Chairperson of Rwanda Elders Advisory Forum.