Headline

Top 10 Longest-serving Presidents In Africa[PHOTOS]

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2024

Editor

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

S’Africa Offers US New Trade Deal To Avoid 30% Tariff

Published

13 hours ago

August 12, 2025

Editor

South Africa will offer a “generous” new trade deal to the United States to avoid 30 percent tariffs, ministers said Tuesday.

Washington on Friday slapped the huge tariff on some South African exports, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, despite efforts by Pretoria to negotiate a better arrangement to avoid massive job losses.

The ministers did not release details of the new offer but said previously discussed measures to increase imports of US poultry, blueberries, and pork had been finalised.

“When the document is eventually made public, I think you would see it as a very broad, generous and ambitious offer to the United States on trade,” Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said at a press briefing.

Officials have said the 30 per cent tariff could cost the economy around 30,000 jobs.

“Our goal is to demonstrate that South African exports do not pose a threat to US industries and that our trade relationship is, in fact, complementary,” Trade Minister Parks Tau said.

The United States is South Africa’s third-largest trading partner after the European Union and China.

However, South African exports account for only 0.25 per cent of total US imports and are “therefore not a threat to US production”, Tau said.

Steenhuisen said US diplomats raised issues related to South African domestic policies, which was a “surprise given the fact we thought we were in a trade negotiation”.

The two nations are at odds over a range of policies.

US President Donald Trump has criticised land and employment laws meant to redress racial inequalities that linger 30 years after the end of apartheid.

“Things like expropriation without compensation, things like some of the race laws in the country, are issues that they regard as barriers now to doing trade with South Africa,” he told AFP on the sidelines of the briefing.

“I think we’re seeing some form of a new era now where trade and tariffs are being used to deal with other issues, outside of what would generally be trade concerns,” Steenhuisen said.

Headline

Over 600 Pilgrims Hospitalised After Chlorine Gas Leaked In Iraq

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

More than 600 pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine as the result of a leak at a water treatment station, authorities said on Sunday.

The incident took place overnight on the route between the two Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, located in the centre and south of Iraq, respectively.

This year, several million Shiite Muslim pilgrims are expected to make their way to Karbala, which houses the shrines of the revered Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.

There, they will mark the Arbaeen — the 40-day period of mourning during which Shiites commemorate the death of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

In a brief statement, Iraq’s health ministry said, “621 cases of asphyxia have been recorded following a chlorine gas leak in Karbala”.

“All have received the necessary care and left the hospital in good health,” it said.

Security forces charged with protecting pilgrims, meanwhile, said the incident had been caused by “a chlorine leak from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road”.

Much of Iraq’s infrastructure is in disrepair due to decades of conflict and corruption, with adherence to safety standards often lax.

In July, a massive fire at a shopping mall in the eastern city of Kut killed more than 60 people, many of whom suffocated in the toilets, according to authorities.

AFP

Headline

PHOTOS: US Soldier Searching For Her Nigerian Father

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

Old photos of Zainab James Parents, Lateef Quadri and Claudine James. Credit: Facebook

A US soldier, Zainab James, has launched a public search for her Nigerian father, identified as Lateef Quadri

The 31-year-old took to Facebook on Sunday to share old photographs of her father and her late mother, Claudine James, including one where Claudine was pregnant with her.

According to Zainab, her mother became pregnant in 1993, and she was born in 1994. Sadly, she lost her mother.

Old photos of Zainab James Parents, Lateef Quadri and Claudine James. Credit: Facebook

In her post, Zainab wrote, “Update: Mother’s name : Claudine James, born Decenber 9, 1969 in Montego Bay, Jamaica (deceased) , Hey All! A real shot in the dark but why not! My mom(pictured) got pregnant with me in 1993 ( I was born 1994) while living in Brooklyn New York. I’m looking for my father or any of his family. All I know is he was Nigerian, possibly named Lateef Quadri or something like that. They didn’t have a long term relationship as he wasn’t present at my birth but he did choose my name. No one in my family met him either. Apparently she was friends with his sister who worked in a jewelry store with her.”