The Eight Longest-Serving African Presidents at the Moment

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — Equatorial Guinea (1979)

Now having ruled for 45 years, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the longest running president in the world at the moment. Usurping power through a coup, he nominally returned Equatorial Guinea back to civilian rule in 1982. However, given the constitutional power to rule by decree and the overwhelming dominance of the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, it would be totally disingenuous to deem his governmental style as democracy. Under Mbasogo, human rights almost do not exist, partly evident in an economic situation where most people in the small, oil-rich African country are living under the poverty line.

Paul Biya — Cameroon (1982)

At 91 years old, Paul Biya is the oldest head of state in the world. First becoming president after the resignation of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo, Biya has remained in office by allegedly enforcing his will even though elections are held every seven years. Opposition parties have accused him of election fraud and violent repression since multiparty elections started in 1992. In 2008, Cameroon’s national assembly removed the term limits that would’ve kept Biya from running in the 2011 elections. Ahead of next year’s election, it is expected that he will once again be in contention.

Denis Sassou-Nguesso — Democratic Republic of the Congo (1979-1992; 1997)

A five-year gap is the reason Dennis Sassou-Nguesso isn’t the longest running president in the world right now. After his first run as president, during which he won re-election unopposed twice, a national conference led to a multiparty election in which Sassou-Nguesso placed third. In disputing the results, he plunged the country into a civil war that claimed thousands of lives, and on his return, a second civil war ensued.

In 2015, a constitution change adjusted presidential terms from seven to five years, but also abolished term limits. The 80-year old will almost certainly be vying for an extension come 2026. It is alleged that there’s no electoral transparency in Congo-Brazzaville, as internet connectivity is routinely disrupted and international observers are shut out.

Yoweri Museveni — Uganda (1986)

Like several of his colleagues in this list, Yoweri Museveni came into power on a path paved by war. He was sworn in as head of state after the Ugandan Bush War, and elections began to be held from 1996. Heading into the 2006 election, the Constitution was amended to allow Museveni return to office after he had served the two terms as allowed by the 1995 Constitution. Since then, opposition and observers have stated that elections in Uganda are neither free nor fair.

In the 2021 polls, main opposition candidate Bobi Wine challenged the results that declared Museveni winner and was harassed by state security for his outspokenness. While he’s stood and won every presidential election in the past 30 years, there’s no illusion that Uganda is more autocratic than it is democratic.

Isaias Afwerki — Eritrea (1993)

Over 30 years, since it fought its way to independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea is yet to have a fully functioning constitution. General elections have never been held, budgets have never been published, and Isaias Afwerki continues to rule over Eritreans. As the omnipotent authority in the East African country, Afwerki allegedly keeps dissenters in line through repression and a general assault on human rights.

Even if things were to change from a clear dictatorship into a democracy, it would only be nominal, as the Afwerki-led Eritrean People’s Liberation Front is the only legal political party. There’s a reason Eritrea has been dubbed “Africa’s North Korea.”

Ismail Omar Guelleh — Djibouti (1999)

Ismail Omar Guelleh, or IOG, is yet to conduct free and fair elections — according to opposition parties in Djibouti. In 2010, he persuaded the national assembly to amend the Constitution to allow him run for a third term. In two years time, he could be on to his sixth term. While general elections are routinely boycotted by opposition, the few that have run against him, like Zakaria Ismail did in 2021, have accused Guelleh of stuffing ballot boxes to force his unbroken incumbency.

Paul Kagame — Rwanda (2000)

Opinions on the long time Rwandan president, Paul Kagame,depend on who you ask. To some, he’s the hero who quelled the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and has brought the East African country into a period of increased stability. To others, his stately candor thinly veils an authoritarian streak, which results in repression of press freedom and accusations of human rights violations. After winning the 2003 presidential election, three years after he ascended to the post following his predecessor’s resignation, he’s won reelection twice and an amendment in 2015 has given him the ability to contest for more than the stipulated two terms listed in the original 2003 Constitution.

Faure Gnassingbé — Togo (2005)

For nearly six decades, Togo’s presidency has been a family affair. After the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1967, President Faure Gnassingbé wiggled his way into power through a constitutional coup. Since that successful power play, Gnassingbé has bent the Constitution to his whims with the help of his ruling party, Union for the Republic (UNIR), which has dominated parliament due to opposition boycott from disillusionment with electoral irregularities.

Now, Gnassingbé has the opportunity to achieve perpetual executive power after parliament adjusted Togo's government style — despite public outcry against the change. With the UNIR controlling parliament for another six years and the foreseeable future, Gnassingbé’s spot in an infamous list like this is guaranteed.

Royal heads of state

Not included in the above list are royals, who are the heads of states in their various countries,and have been in power for more than two decades. The first is King Mswati III of Eswatini who ascended the throne in 1986 after the death of his father, King Sobhuza II. As Eswatini is governed by an absolute monarchy, Mswati III is the Southern African nation’s head of state and he holds absolute power over the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Mswati III is known to live a lavish lifestyle, and was named one of the world’s richest royals by Forbesin 2012, which is in sharp contrast to the “high and persistent poverty” amongst citizens, according to a 2022 World Bank report.

The second African head of state who is a royal, is Lesotho’s King Letsie III, whose power within the confines of Lesotho’s constitutional monarchy are mainly ceremonial. With very little authority proscribed by the Constitution, Letsie III hasn’t interfered with Lesotho’s multi-party system where citizens vote for parliament and executive power rests with the prime minister. He has reigned unobtrusively for two stints, from 1990 to 1995 and from 1997 till today.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco is the third African head of state to inherit such prolonged power. In 2011, Mohammed VI announced a series of constitutional reforms that, on the face of it, gave more power to political parties and the people. The previous Constitution, although allowing for multi-party politics, gave the king unchecked power. While critics were unsatisfied with the extent of the changes at the time, a significant portion of the executive power now lies with the prime minister, who’s elected through parliament majority rather than being handpicked by the king. Meanwhile, Mohammed VI, who has ruled since 1999, continues to hold power to appoint regional governors.