From a young refugee to Rwanda’s most dominant political figure, Paul Kagame’s rise to power is a story of resilience, strategy, and controversy.
Born on October 23, 1957, in Ruhango, southern Rwanda, Kagame fled with his family to Uganda in 1959 amid ethnic turmoil. There, he grew up in exile and later joined the National Resistance Army (NRA), helping Yoweri Museveni overthrow Uganda’s government in 1986.
In 1987, Kagame co-founded the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to fight for the return of Tutsi refugees and political reform. When the RPF launched its armed rebellion in 1990, Kagame emerged as its military commander after the death of Fred Rwigyema. Following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which over a million people were massacred, Kagame led the RPF to victory, ending the bloodshed and assuming the role of Rwanda’s de facto leader.
Kagame officially became president in 2000 and has since been re-elected in 2003, 2010, 2017, and 2024—each time by overwhelming margins. His tenure has transformed Rwanda into a model of economic growth, infrastructure development, and stability. However, his administration is often criticized for suppressing opposition, media censorship, and human rights concerns.
In 2015, Kagame amended the constitution, allowing him to extend his rule beyond the two-term limit—a move that sparked international debate. His influence also extended beyond Rwanda, notably as Chairperson of the African Union from 2018 to 2019, where he pushed for key reforms.
Despite allegations of supporting the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kagame remains a formidable force in African politics. Married to Jeannette Nyiramongi, with four children, he continues to shape Rwanda’s future—whether as a visionary leader or an unyielding ruler, depending on whom you ask.
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