…The 10 longest-serving African heads of state

By Clifford Ndujihe

Africa is home to a number of long-serving leaders who have held onto power through various means, including elections, military force, and royal succession. Collectively, these 10 leaders have ruled their countries for a staggering 333 years.

Among them is Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 91, who has been in power since 1982. Speculation over Biya’s health and whereabouts spread across Africa this week following unconfirmed reports of his death.

Biya’s last public appearance was at the China-Africa summit in Beijing in early September. His absence at the recent UN General Assembly in New York and a summit of French-speaking countries (La Francophonie) in France added fuel to the rumours.

Cameroon’s ambassador to France insisted that Biya was “in good health” and in Geneva, his frequent retreat. Additionally, Cameroon’s government spokesman, René Sadi, formally denied the rumours, assuring that Biya would return home “in the next few days.”

Here are the 10 longest-serving African heads of state:

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea)

41 years in power

Mbasogo is the world’s longest-serving non-royal leader, having assumed power on October 12, 1982.

Paul Biya (Cameroon)

41 years in power

Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving president and the world’s oldest head of state, has ruled Cameroon since 1982. He will mark 42 years in power on November 6, 2024.

Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo)

40 years in power (cumulatively)

Nguesso has ruled Congo since 1997 and previously from 1979 to 1992.

Yoweri Museveni (Uganda)

38 years in power

Museveni has been Uganda’s president since January 1986 and has been re-elected multiple times.

King Mswati III (Eswatini)

38 years in power

Crowned king in 1986 at the age of 18, Mswati is Africa’s fifth longest-serving head of state.

Idriss Déby (Chad)

30 years in power

Déby ruled Chad until his death in 2021 while commanding troops against rebel forces.

Isaias Afwerki (Eritrea)

31 years in power

Afwerki has led Eritrea since its independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti)

25 years in power

Guelleh has been in power since May 1999.

King Mohammed VI (Morocco)

25 years in power

King Mohammed ascended to the throne in July 1999.

Paul Kagame (Rwanda)

24 years in power

Kagame was first elected president in 2000 and has been re-elected several times since.

These leaders have collectively shaped the political landscape of Africa for over three centuries.