List of Presidents of Rwanda: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Rwanda from 1961 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Rwanda, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Rwanda: Paul Kagame (in office since 2000).

Presidents of Rwanda in order, with years in office

Dominique Mbonyumutwa

Served: 1961 (interim)

Interim president from 28 January to 26 October 1961, before the republic's first elected president took over.

Grégoire Kayibanda

Served: 1961–1973

First elected president; deposed in the coup of 5 July 1973 and died in detention in 1976.

Juvénal Habyarimana

Served: 1973–1994

Took power in the 1973 coup; his assassination on 6 April 1994 was the spark for the genocide against the Tutsi.

Théodore Sindikubwabo

Served: 1994 (interim)

Installed as interim president after Habyarimana's death; his government was ousted on 19 July 1994.

Pasteur Bizimungu

Served: 1994–2000

Became president after the RPF took power in July 1994; resigned on 23 March 2000.

Paul Kagame

Served: 2000–present

Vice president and defence minister before taking office on 24 March 2000; re-elected in 2003, 2010, 2017 and 2024.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Rwanda

Who is the current president of Rwanda?

The current head of state of Rwanda is Paul Kagame, in office since 2000.

Who were the previous presidents of Rwanda?

The presidents and heads of state of Rwanda listed on this page, in order, are: Dominique Mbonyumutwa, Grégoire Kayibanda, Juvénal Habyarimana, Théodore Sindikubwabo, Pasteur Bizimungu, Paul Kagame.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Rwanda (checked Nov 2026). Interim presidents are labelled.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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