Headline

Top 10 Longest-serving Presidents In Africa[PHOTOS]

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2024

Africa has seen several presidents who have remained in power for extended periods.

These long-serving presidents often maintain their positions through a mix of constitutional amendments, electoral manipulation, and suppression of political opposition.

Below are the top 10 longest-serving presidents and monarchs in Africa as of 2024.

1. Teodoro Obiang (45 years)

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, holds the record as the longest-serving president in Africa and globally. He has been in power since August 1979, after a military coup that deposed his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema. Obiang’s tenure has been marked by accusations of human rights abuses and corruption.

2. Paul Biya (42 years)

Paul Biya has been the President of Cameroon since November 6, 1982. As the second-longest-ruling president in Africa, Biya’s administration is heavily supported by France, which has provided military aid and training. His tenure has faced criticism over electoral fraud and governance issues.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso (40 years)

Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo has served as president for a total of 39 years, although not consecutively. His first term was from 1979 to 1992, and he returned to power in 1997 following a civil war. Nguesso’s long rule is characterized by allegations of corruption and authoritarianism.

4. Yoweri Museveni (38 years)

Yoweri Museveni has been the President of Uganda since January 1986, making him the fourth-longest-serving president in Africa. Museveni rose to power after a successful military campaign against previous regimes. His leadership has been criticized for alleged election rigging and suppression of dissent.

5. King Mswati III (38 years)

King Mswati III of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) ascended to the throne on April 25, 1986, at the age of 18. He is one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs, co-ruling with his mother, Queen Mother Ntfombi Tfwala. His reign has been marked by ongoing debates over democratic reforms and human rights.

6. Isaias Afwerki (31 years)

Isaias Afwerki has been the President of Eritrea since its independence from Ethiopia in April 1993. His rule is noted for its long duration and the country’s lack of national elections, contributing to ongoing criticisms regarding human rights and governance.

7. Letsie III (28 years)

King Letsie III of Lesotho became monarch in October 1997, following the death of his father, Moshoeshoe II. As a constitutional monarch, his role is largely ceremonial, but he remains one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa.

8. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (25 years)

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been President of Djibouti since 1999. He succeeded his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who had ruled since the country’s independence. Guelleh has faced allegations of extending his presidency through questionable means and electoral practices.

9. Mohammed VI (25 years)

King Mohammed VI of Morocco began his reign on July 23, 1999, following the death of his father, King Hassan II. As one of the most influential Muslim leaders globally, Mohammed VI’s reign has focused on modernization efforts and economic reforms, though it has also faced criticisms.

10. Paul Kagame (24 years)

Paul Kagame has been the President of Rwanda since April 2000. Kagame, who had been the de facto leader since 1994, took office officially following the resignation of then-President Bizimungu. His administration is credited with economic growth and development, though it faces scrutiny over political freedoms and human rights.

Related Topics:Africa President presidents

Up Next

PHOTOS: Many Injured As Trucks, Cars, Buses Collide On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Don't Miss

Tight Security In Kenya Ahead Of New Protests

Comments

Headline

US Commits $32.5m To Support Food Security In Nigeria

Published

14 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The United States Government has committed $32.5m to the United Nations World Food Programme to support food and nutrition assistance for hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the US Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, the funding will enable WFP Nigeria to reach approximately 764,205 vulnerable individuals in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country.

These areas have been severely impacted by ongoing insecurity and displacement, with millions struggling to access necessities.

The assistance package includes general food distributions as well as targeted nutritional support.

Among the beneficiaries are 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, and 43,235 children who will receive specialised nutrition support through electronic food vouchers, according to the statement.

“World Food Program Nigeria, with US Government’s contribution of $32.5m, will provide food assistance and nutrition support to internally displaced persons across conflict-affected areas.

“With the US Government’s donation, the World Food Programme Nigeria will provide food and nutrition assistance to 764,205 beneficiaries across Northeast and Northwest Nigeria.

“This includes complementary nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers,” the statement read.

On December 18, 2024, PUNCH Online reported that the United States Agency for International Development has denounced recent media reports misrepresenting US agricultural initiatives in Nigeria, stating that its programmes operate transparently and align with the country’s laws.

In a statement issued by the US Mission in Nigeria, USAID highlighted the significant achievements of its agricultural collaboration with Nigeria, which it claimed has supported over five million Nigerian farmers since 2019.

The agency maintained it has boosted food production and strengthened rural economies across the country through its efforts.

Headline

UK To Ban Sale Of Energy Drinks To Children

Published

16 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The United Kingdom government has unveiled plans to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including popular brands such as Red Bull, to anyone under the age of 16 in England.

Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announcing the move on Wednesday, said the step was aimed at safeguarding young people’s wellbeing.

“By stopping children from buying these drinks, we’re laying the groundwork for healthier and happier generations,” he explained.

Government figures suggest that up to one in three teenagers aged 13 to 16 regularly consume energy drinks, many of which contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee.

While most major supermarkets already enforce a voluntary restriction, the new policy would make it a nationwide rule.

“How can we expect pupils to thrive in the classroom if they’re running on the equivalent of a double espresso every day?” Streeting asked, stressing that the government was responding to concerns raised by parents and teachers. “We’re determined to address the root causes of poor health and educational struggles head-on.”

Headline

Indian Man Gets Death Sentence For Burning Wife Alive Over Skin Colour

Published

16 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

A court in India recently sentenced a man to death for setting his wife, Lakshmi, ablaze alive due to her dark skin colour. This harsh punishment reflects the gravity of the crime and its impact on society.

As reported by BBC on Wednesday, the attack on Lakshmi took place on the night of 24 June 2017, the murder dates eight years back, and the judgment, delivered at the weekend, has made headlines in a country where public obsession with colourism is well documented.

The attack on Lakshmi took place on the night of 24 June 2017, according to the court order seen by the BBC.

Before her death, Lakshmi revealed that her husband, Kishandas, frequently mocked her for being dark-skinned, calling her “kali” and body-shaming her since their marriage in 2016.

On the night of her attack, Kishandas brought a plastic bottle containing a brown liquid, purportedly a skin-lightening medicine.

According to Lakshmi’s statements, he applied the liquid on her body, and when she complained about a strong acid-like smell, he set her on fire with an incense stick.

Adding to the cruelty, Kishandas poured the remaining liquid on her while she was burning and then fled. Her family rushed her to the hospital, but she later died from her injuries.

The judge, Rahul Choudhary, condemned the act as not only a murder but “a crime against humanity,” stressing that Kishandas “broke her trust” and showed “excessive cruelty in throwing the remaining liquid on her” while she burned.

He described the case as fitting the “rarest of the rare” category, saying, “It will not be an exaggeration to say that this heart-rending brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but it’s a crime against humanity.”

He added, “It’s a crime that shocks the conscience of humanity, which cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society.”

The public prosecutor called the verdict “historic,” hoping it would serve as “a lesson for others in society.”

He said, “A young woman in her early 20s was brutally murdered. She was someone’s sister, someone’s daughter; there were people who loved her. If we don’t save our daughters, then who would?”

This tragic story highlights the deep-rooted issue of colourism, where darker-skinned women face widespread discrimination and abuse.

Despite ongoing campaigns to challenge these prejudices, the preference for fair skin remains strongly embedded in many areas of life, continuing to cause immense harm. Until societal attitudes change, such heartbreaking incidents are likely to persist.