When was Paul Kagame born?

Paul Kagame was born on 23 October 1957 in Ruhango.

What positions has Paul Kagame held?

Positions held by Paul Kagame include: Chairperson of the African Union (2018–2019); President of Rwanda (since 22 April 2000); Vice President of Rwanda (1994–2000); Minister of Defence (1994–2000).

Where did Paul Kagame study?

Paul Kagame was educated at United States Army Command and General Staff College, Makerere University.

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Paul Kagame

President of Rwanda since 2000 (born 1957)

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Paul Kagame (born 23 October 1957) is a Rwandan politician and former military officer who has been the president of Rwanda since 2000. He is considered to be Rwanda's de facto leader since 1994, from 1994 till 2000 while Vice President and Minister of Defence under President Pasteur Bizimungu. He was previously a commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel armed force which invaded Rwanda in 1990. The RPF was one of the main belligerents of the Rwandan Civil War and was the armed force which ended the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Quick facts

Born: 23 October 1957 wd
Place of birth: Ruhango wd
Citizenship: Rwanda wd
Occupation: politician, military officer, minister wd
Political party: Rwandan Patriotic Front wd
Education: United States Army Command and General Staff College, Makerere University wd
Spouse: Jeannette Kagame wd
Official website: paulkagame.com wd
Social media: X (Twitter) · Facebook · Instagram wd

Positions held wd

Chairperson of the African Union (28 January 2018 – 10 February 2019)
President of Rwanda (since 22 April 2000)
Vice President of Rwanda (19 July 1994 – 22 April 2000)
Minister of Defence (19 July 1994 – 22 April 2000)

Awards wd

Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (2009)
Order of the Republic of Serbia
Ribbon bar of the Kagera River Medal
Grand Cross of the National Order of Benin (2010)

About

Born to a Tutsi family in southern Rwanda that fled to Uganda when he was two years old, Kagame spent the rest of his childhood there during the Rwandan Revolution, which ended Tutsi political dominance. In the 1980s, Kagame fought in Yoweri Museveni's rebel army becoming a senior Ugandan army officer after many military victories led Museveni to the Ugandan presidency. Kagame joined the RPF, taking control of the group when previous leader Fred Rwigyema died on the second day of the 1990 invasion. By 1993, the RPF controlled significant territory in Rwanda and a ceasefire was negotiated. The assassination of Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana set off the genocide, in which Hutu extremists killed an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu. Kagame resumed the civil war and ended the genocide with a military victory.

During his vice presidency, Kagame controlled the national army and was responsible for maintaining the government's power, while other officials began rebuilding the country. Many RPF soldiers carried out retribution killings. Kagame said he did not support these killings but failed to stop them. Hutu refugee camps formed in Zaire and other countries and the RPF attacked the camps in 1996, but insurgents continued to attack Rwanda. As part of the invasion, Kagame sponsored two rebel wars in Zaire.…

In the news All news →

Beheaded body of Rwandan government critic found in Uganda19 October 2026

Questions

When was Paul Kagame born?: Paul Kagame was born on 23 October 1957 in Ruhango.
What positions has Paul Kagame held?: Positions held by Paul Kagame include: Chairperson of the African Union (2018–2019); President of Rwanda (since 22 April 2000); Vice President of Rwanda (1994–2000); Minister of Defence (1994–2000).
Where did Paul Kagame study?: Paul Kagame was educated at United States Army Command and General Staff College, Makerere University.

Sources

Last updated 1 November 2026 · facts checked 5 November 2026

Cite this page

"Paul Kagame". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/paul-kagame. Retrieved 5 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Paul Kagame, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Paul Kagame 2024 (cropped).jpg — Saeima, CC BY-SA 2.0.

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