By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KIGALI
Rwandan president Paul Kagame has dropped another hint on retiring from active politics and hand over power after 22 years in office.
Speaking to journalists at a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Kagame said a succession plan is being actively discussed by the ruling party, Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi). He termed his retirement an “inevitability”.
He said he was not necessarily interested in choosing his successor but rather creating an environment 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.
He said his retirement is an issue that has to be discussed “sooner or later”.
“I’m sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I’m looking forward to that,” Mr Kagame said.
Kagame has been president of the East African nation since 2000. A controversial referendum in 2015 removed a two-term constitutional limit for presidents.
This is not the first time Kagame talks about his retirement. In December 2022, he said he had no problem becoming an ordinary senior citizen.
Rwandan constitution allows president to run for another two five-year terms until 2034.
Kagame is known of interesting himself in a female president as his replacement and recently the country’s ruling party, RPF-Inkotanyi, elected its first woman vice-chairperson.
“My wish is that one day, a woman takes up this position that you gave me,” Kagame told delegates during the Nation Address at the 17th National Annual Dialogue last year.
Only two women have attempted to run for the top seat—Victoire Ingabire in 2010 and Diane Rwigara in 2017.
Their attempts were, however, short-lived and unsuccessful as both were arrested shortly after announcing their bids to run against Kagame.
In an interview with a French TV last year, Kagame told the journalist he would stand for president again at the next election in 2024.
