President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has said he is looking forward to retiring and handing over power after 23 years in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Mr Kagame said a succession plan was being actively discussed by the ruling party, terming his retirement an “inevitability”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Kagame said he was not necessarily interested in choosing his successor but rather creating an environment that would give rise to people who can lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his retirement was an issue that has to be discussed “sooner or later”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I’m looking forward to that,” Mr Kagame said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments come days after the country’s ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), elected its first woman vice-chairperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Kagame retained the chairmanship position. He has led the party since 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was not the first time Mr Kagame has talked about retirement. In December 2022, he said he had no problem becoming an ordinary senior citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Kagame has been president of the East African nation since 2000. A controversial referendum in 2015 removed a two-term constitutional limit for presidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n