Paul Kagame reveals plans to retire

Rwanda’s longtime leader Paul Kagame announced Wednesday discussion within ruling party to find his successor as man who has been lately re-elected as chair of the party in power says his retirement as inevitable.

The 65-year old strongman who has been leading the eastern African country for 23 years made the announcement during a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, in Kigali, reports say.

“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.

The Rwandan leader also indicated that his retirement was an issue that has to be discussed “sooner or later” and that upon his retirement he subsequently wants to start a new life as journalist.

The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) re-elected him as its leader last Sunday during a congress, one year ahead of presidential polls slated for next year.

He has led the party since 1998. Late last month, the government approved a proposal by Kagame to amend the country’s Constitution to allow “harmonization of parliamentary and presidential elections calendars.”

Parliamentary elections are currently scheduled to take place in August this year, but if the constitutional change is implemented, they may be pushed back to next year to be held simultaneously with presidential polls.

The East African country last amended its Constitution in 2015, to allow Kagame to extend his rule by a seven-year term commencing in 2017. It can be followed by two further five-year presidential mandates.