African Heads of State, who are currently all male, have an average age of 64.32 years. This situation appears to be at odds with the demographics in Africa as the continent’s population is youthful.

At 91, Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia is the oldest President on the continent. He is followed by Cameroon Republic’s President Paul Biya, 85; Algeria’s Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 81, and; Alpha Condé of Guinea-Conakry, 80. 16 African Heads of State are in their 70s, 15 in their 60s, and 20 in their 50s. Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is 47 years old. At 41, Abiy Ahmed Ali, Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister is Africa’s youngest ruler.

Africa’s non-monarchical rulers who have been in power for 19 or more years are between the ages of 66 and 85. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea has been in power since 1979, that is 39 years. He is 76 years old. Paul Biya of Cameroon Republic came to power by constitutional appointment in November 1982. At 85 he is Africa’s second longest ruler with 35 years in power. Museveni of Uganda has been in power since 1986, he is 73 years old while Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, 74, came to power in 1989. Isaias Afwerki has been Eritrea’s only ruler since the country’s independence in 1991. At 72, and 27 years in power, he is still to organise democratic elections. Denis Sassou Nguesso, 74, first ruled the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) from 1979 to 1992 as a military dictator. He returned to power by means of a rebellion in 1997. He therefore totals 34 years as Head of State. Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria the 81-year-old ailing President of Algeria came to power in 1999. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, 70, also came to power that same year.

At 66, Idris Deby Itno of Chad who seized power in 1990 by means of a coup is the youngest of these long-stay non-monarchs in Africa. In May 2018, he promulgated a “…new constitution [that reimposed] a two-term limit scrapped in a 2005 referendum. But it will not be applied retroactively, meaning Deby could serve two terms after the next election in 2021.” Like Idriss Deby, a good number of Africa’s oldest rulers have fiddled with the Constitution of their respective countries in order to remain in power.

Table: List of Africa’s 57 Heads of State and their ages

Africa counts 54 independent and recognised States. Western Sahara is still battling for recognition while Somaliland intends to affirm its independence from Somalia and gain recognition.  Its neighbour, “…Puntland says it does not seek recognition as an independent entity, wishing instead to be part of a federal Somalia”. While Somaliland, Western Sahara, and Puntland are widely known there are other no less notorious territories equally vying for autonomy or full independence. Angola’s Cabinda, Ambazonia which is the successor State of the British Southern Cameroons, and Nigeria’s Biafra are some of such territories.

Table last updated on 30 July 2018