This article lists the presidents of Rwanda since the creation of the office in 1961 (during the Rwandan Revolution), to the present day.
As specified in the constitution, the President functions as the head of state of Rwanda, and possesses broad executive powers. The officeholder is elected by popular vote every seven years, and appoints the Prime Minister and all other members of Cabinet.
Read: POLITICAL HISTORY OF RWANDA
A total of four people has served as President of Rwanda (not counting two Acting Presidents). The current President is Paul Kagame, since 24 March 2000.
LIST OF OFFICE HOLDERS
| No. | President (Birth–Death) |
Tenure | Elected | Ethnic affiliation | Political affiliation | Prime Minister(s) | |||||
| Took office | Left office | ||||||||||
| Republic of Rwanda (part of Ruanda-Urundi) | |||||||||||
| 1 | Dominique Mbonyumutwa (1921–1986) |
28 January 1961 | 26 October 1961 | – | Hutu | Parmehutu | Kayibanda | ||||
| 2 | Grégoire Kayibanda (1924–1976) |
26 October 1961 | 1 July 1962 | 1961 | Hutu | Parmehutu | Himself | ||||
| Republic of Rwanda (independent country) | |||||||||||
| 2 | Grégoire Kayibanda (1924–1976) |
1 July 1962 | 5 July 1973 (deposed.) |
1965 1969 |
Hutu | Parmehutu | Position abolished | ||||
| 3 | Juvénal Habyarimana (1937–1994) |
5 July 1973 | 6 April 1994 (assassinated.) |
1978 1983 1988 |
Hutu | Military/ MRND |
Nsanzimana Nsengiyaremye Uwilingiyimana |
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| 4 | Théodore Sindikubwabo (1928–1998) |
8 April 1994 | 19 July 1994 (ousted.) |
– | Hutu | MRND | Kambanda | ||||
| 5 | Pasteur Bizimungu (1950–) |
19 July 1994 | 23 March 2000 (resigned.) |
– | Hutu | RPF | Twagiramungu Rwigema Makuza |
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| 6 | Paul Kagame (1957–) |
24 March 2000 | Incumbent | 2000 2003 2010 2017 |
Tutsi | RPF | Makuza Habumuremyi Murekezi Ngirente |
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