Paul Kagame (; born 23 October 1957) is a Rwandan politician and former military leader. He is the 6th and current president of Rwanda, having taken office in 2000. Kagame previously commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Uganda-based rebel force which invaded Rwanda in 1990 and was one of the parties of the conflict during the Rwandan Civil War and the Rwandan genocide. He was considered Rwanda's "de facto" leader when he served as Vice President and Minister of Defence under President Pasteur Bizimungu from 1994 to 2000.