Rwandan President Paul Kagame said he is anticipating retirement and handing over power after 23 years in office.
Kagame said this at a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. He said a succession plan was being actively discussed by the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front, adding that he was set to leave.
The leader said he was less interested in who succeeds him but more interested in creating an atmosphere that would give rise to people who can lead.
“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.
“I’m sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I’m looking forward to that,” Kagame said.
President Kagame has led the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) since 1998, few days ago, the party elected its first woman vice-chairperson.
This was not the first time Kagame has talked about retirement. In December 2022, he said he had no problem becoming an ordinary senior citizen.
The president told a French TV channel last year that he would seek office for the presidency again at the forthcoming 2024 polls.
Kagame has been president of the East African nation since 2000. A controversial referendum in 2015 removed a two-term constitutional limit for presidents.
