President Paul Kagame has addressed circulating rumors about his health, explaining that his recent absence from public engagements was due to a personal break rather than illness. During this time, he focused on resting and spending quality moments with his grandchildren.
The clarification came during an interview with François Soudan for Jeune Afrique, where Kagame discussed his extended absence in June 2025 that had sparked public speculation about his wellbeing.
He noted that taking several weeks off from public engagements is normal and emphasized that his health is strong compared to peers of similar age. Kagame also highlighted that his wellbeing would rank highly among adults in comparable countries such as France, the UK, and the US.
The comments follow social media reports in June 2025 claiming he was unwell, which were previously refuted by Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo, who confirmed that he was on routine personal leave.
