After 23 years in service, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has stated that he is looking forward to his retirement and the transfer of power.

In a joint press conference with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, Mr. Kagame stated that the ruling party was actively discussing a succession plan and that his retirement was "inevitable" while speaking in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Mr. Kagame claimed that he was less concerned with selecting his successor than he was with cultivating a climate that would produce leaders.

"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.

He said his retirement was an issue that has to be discussed "sooner or later".

"I'm sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I'm looking forward to that," Mr Kagame said.

His comments come days after the country's ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), elected its first woman vice-chairperson.

President Kagame retained the chairmanship position. He has led the party since 1998.

This was not the first time Mr Kagame has talked about retirement. In December 2022, he said he had no problem becoming an ordinary senior citizen.

Since 2000, Mr. Kagame has served as the country's president. A contentious vote in 2015 overturned the constitutional restriction on presidents serving two terms.

The president announced last year that he would run for office once more in the 2024 election to a French television station.