5 African Presidents With Longest-serving Tenures

5 African Presidents With Longest-serving Tenures

The continent of Africa is witnessing a series of coups, with Gabon being the latest nation to experience military intervention.

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As these frequent political upheavals raise worries about stability and effective governance, many analysts attribute these power shifts to the prolonged tenures of some African leaders.

Here, we highlight a selection of the longest-serving African presidents along with the number of years they have held office:

Paul Biya (42 years)

Paul Biya has held the position of Cameroon’s president since 1982, maintaining his grip on power despite election controversies. His rule has been marred by criticism of repression and human rights violations.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (44 years)

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo assumed the role of Equatorial Guinea’s president in 1979, establishing him as the longest-serving African president. His leadership has been shadowed by allegations of repression, torture, and the persecution of political adversaries.

King Mswati III (36 years)

Ruling over Eswatini, the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa, King Mswati III has governed for 36 years. He ascended to the throne in April 1986 at the age of 18.

Yoweri Museveni (35 years)

Uganda’s president since 1986, Yoweri Museveni has faced mounting criticism for his authoritarian approach and efforts to prolong his rule, including the removal of term limits. He currently ranks as the third oldest head of state in Africa, at 79 years old.

Denis Sassou (36 years)

Having held the presidency of the Republic of the Congo since 1979, Denis Sassou has been re-elected three times. Presently counted among the eldest heads of state in Africa, at 80 years old, Sassou has been dogged by accusations of corruption, poor governance, and human rights violations.

Credit: Tribune