RWANDA : ANASTASE MUREKEZI NOUVEAU PREMIER MINISTRE

Anastase Murekezi (L) has been appointed as prime minister, replacing Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi.

Anastase Murekezi has replaced Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi as prime minister. This was announced this afternoon in a statement released by the Office of the President.

Previously, Murekezi had been minister of public service and labour.

Reacting to his new appointment, the prime ministerial appointee tweeted on his Twitter handle @amurekezi, “It is a great honor for me to have been appointed Prime Minieter by H.E @PaulKagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. I cannot thank enough H.E @PaulKagame for having appointed me Prime Minister. ‘My new appointment gives me a unique opportunity to keep serving my country (Rwanda) and Rwandans all of us working hard together”.

Reacting to his removal from the post, the former Prime Minister tweeted “My sincere gratitude to @PaulKagame & RPF for the trust bestowed on me when I was appointed PM and all of you who supported me. God bless u (sic)".

Dr. Habumuremyi has been prime minister since October 7, 2011 after replacing Bernard Makuza. He was formerly the Minister of Education.

Cabinet reshuffle imminent

According to the Rwandan Constitution, the entire cabinet must resign as a result of the prime ministerial shake up. Article 124 states: ‘The resignation or vacation of the office of the Prime Minister on account of any reason shall lead to resignation of other members of the Cabinet. The President of the Republic shall receive the resignation of the Cabinet when it is submitted by the Prime Minister. During such period, the Cabinet shall only deal with routine business until a new Cabinet is appointed’.

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