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Paul Kagame.

Paul Kagame — Politician
Born
Citizenship Rwanda
Age 68 yr Today

6 min read

Reading time

1,095

Words

Published

6

Film credits

4

Awards

TL;DR

Paul Kagame became the sixth President of Rwanda in 2000 after serving as Vice President and Minister of Defence. He commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front RPF that retook Kigali in 1994, ending the Genocide Against the Tutsi. He also served as President of the African Union in 2018.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of Paul Kagame — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases Gen Paul Kagame
SPOUSES
Jeannette Nyiramongi
CHILDREN
Ange Kagame Ian Kagame Brian Kagame

At a glance.

STATS

Paul Kagame by the numbers — life, work, and family.

68 Age
6 Film credits
4 Awards
1 Marriage
3 Children

Who is Paul Kagame?

BIOGRAPHY

Paul Kagame — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Kagame grew up in refugee camps in southern Rwanda after being born in 1957. This upbringing influenced his founding of the Rwandan Patriotic Front. He later attended Makerere University and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Career

Kagame commanded the RPF takeover of Kigali in 1994, ending the Genocide Against the Tutsi. After serving as Vice President and Minister of Defence, he became President in 2000. In 2018, he served as President of the African Union. Sport became a key part of his rebuilding strategy; the International Olympic Committee awarded him the Inspiring Young People prize in 2010. He has appeared in documentaries including Coronavirus, Explained 2020 and Shake Hands with the Devil 2005.

Personal life

Kagame married Jeannette Nyiramongi in 1989, and they have four children, including Ange, Ian, and Brian. He is an avid Arsenal fan and often speaks about his passion for football. His family has been involved in various philanthropic efforts in Rwanda.

Legacy

Kagame rebuilt Rwanda after the genocide, focusing on development and reconciliation. But Amnesty International and other groups have criticized his rule for suppressing political opposition. He holds awards such as the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia and the Order of the Republic of Serbia. His appearances in documentaries like Clinton Cash 2016 reflect his international profile. He is remembered for leading Rwanda out of genocide and into stability.

Filmography.

FILMS · 6

Browse the complete filmography of Paul Kagame — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

  1. TV Poster for Coronavirus, Explained

    Coronavirus, Explained

  2. TV Poster for Calling All T.O.T.S.

    Calling All T.O.T.S.

  3. Movie Poster for Clinton Cash

    Clinton Cash

  4. Movie Poster for Shake Hands with the Devil: the Journey of Roméo Dallaire

    Shake Hands with the Devil: the Journey of Roméo Dallaire

  5. Movie Poster for Inkotanyi

    Inkotanyi

  6. Movie Poster for Rwanda: the Royal Tour

    Rwanda: the Royal Tour

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 4

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Paul Kagame — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

  • Order of the Pioneers of Liberia
  • Order of the Republic of Serbia
  • Ribbon bar of the Kagera River Medal
  • Grand Cross of the National Order of Benin

Did you know?

FACTS · 4

Little-known facts about Paul Kagame — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

  1. Amnesty International and other global watchdog organizations have criticized his rule, claiming his regime suppresses the freedom to oppose his role and organize political parties.

  2. Kagame married Jeannette Nyiramongi in 1989, and they have four children.

  3. He became the sixth President of Rwanda in 2000. As a leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, he helped end the Rwandan genocide in 1994 by invading Rwanda to stop the killings of Tutsis by Hutus.

  4. Before entering politics, he served as a soldier in the armed forces and was a member of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 28

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Paul Kagame.

Audited & updated by

Michael Hayes

Senior Copy Editor & Editorial Fact Reviewer

Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

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