Know the Presidents Who Refuse to Relinquish Power in Africa

Written by HAKIZIMANA Maurice

In my previous Kinyarwanda article, I talked about the topic “Where do African presidents go when they leave office?” Africa has its own particularities. At that time, I presented a report that featured 22 African leaders who were killed by their successors, sometimes manipulated by former colonial powers, starting from 1963. I also mentioned some who were lucky not to be killed but were humiliated, imprisoned, stripped of their honors and presidential privileges, and the very few who, after stepping down, were still respected and treated with dignity by their successors.

📘 Read also: Where do African presidents go after leaving office? Africa has its own peculiarities (Kinyarwanda Report)

In Africa, many heads of state desire to die in office, like monarchs. In some African countries—as BBC Gahuza once reported—a person can be born, grow up, attend primary school, go to university, start working, and spend 15 to 20 years in their career while having known only one president. In truth, Africa has leaders who have been in power for 20, 30, or even more than 40 years. Let’s discover the presidents in Africa who refuse to let go of power.

(1)Teodoro Obiang Nguema Basogo 83 years old – Equatorial Guinea, 44 years in power

By age, he’s not the oldest African head of state. But in terms of tenure, he’s the longest-serving leader on the continent. President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been in power for 44 years—undisputed.

In this Central African country, Obiang rules with an iron fist. He recently appointed his own son, Teodorin Nguema Obiang, as Vice President—clearly grooming him as his successor.

(2). Paul Biya 92 years old – Cameroon, 43 years in power

At 92, Paul Biya is the oldest head of state in the world. He has been president of Cameroon since November 1982—meaning he’s been ruling for 43 years, unchallenged.

Cameroon, under his rule, has been plagued by political unrest and insecurity. A major crisis stems from English-speaking citizens in a separatist movement called Ambazonia, who are frustrated and seeking independence. Yet Biya has shown no intention of easing their grievances.

(3). Denis Sassou Nguesso 82 years old – Congo-Brazzaville, 41 years in power (non-consecutive)

Denis Sassou Nguesso first ruled Congo-Brazzaville from 1979 to 1992. In 1992 elections, he lost with only 16.9% of the vote to Pascal Lissouba, the first truly elected president.

But just five years later, in 1997, Nguesso launched a coup d’état, ousting Lissouba and plunging the country into civil war. Since returning to power, he has never left—ruling by force. Anyone who dares to rise against him is crushed with exemplary brutality.

(4). Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa 81 years old – Uganda, 39 years in power

Museveni has been the sole political force in Uganda since 1986. He has ruled the country for 39 years and has no intention of stepping down. In fact, he plans to run again in the next election (marking 40 years in power) for a 7th term under his NRM party.

In 2021, he amended the constitution, which had previously barred presidential candidates above 75 years of age. After scrapping this article, he ran for a 6th term at age 77. That year, young musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) tried to challenge him—but was brutally suppressed.

(5). Isaias Afwerki 79 years old – Eritrea, 32 years in power

Eritrea is governed under a nameless dictatorship so extreme that analysts have dubbed it “Africa’s North Korea.” This label was first used by Vanessa Tsehaye, a Swedish human rights activist of Eritrean descent.

Afwerki took power in 1993 when Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia. After leading the war of independence, he became a dictator: the country has only one party, no elections, and no compassion. Since the 1998–2000 war with Ethiopia, Eritrea has become a locked-down state where dissent is met with torture and disappearance. This is no metaphor—this is Eritrea, in the Horn of Africa.

(6). Paul Kagame 68 years old – Rwanda, 31 years in power (combined as VP and President)

General Paul Kagame has been in power in Rwanda for 31 years—25 as President and 6 as Vice President (though he was effectively in control even then).

📘 Read also: Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda: His Life, Country, and Education

Kagame did not come to power through elections or peaceful means. He led the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel group mainly composed of Tutsi exiles, which overthrew the government led by the MRND party of President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu.

Kagame, often referred to by Westerners as “The Strongman of Kigali,” was de facto president even when Pasteur Bizimungu held the official title between 1994 and 2000. After Bizimungu stepped down (or was forced out), Kagame took over and has ruled ever since.

Human rights advocates call him an authoritarian ruler who rejects genuine democratic competition. The BBC once described his rule as “smart dictatorship”—an illusion of democracy. The constitution was amended to allow him to stay in power beyond his original term limits. At this rate, Kagame could remain in power until 2035, unless the constitution is revised again.

(7). Ismail Omar Guelleh 77 years old – Djibouti, 26 years in power

Rarely talked about, Ismail Omar Guelleh has been president of Djibouti since May 8, 1999, following the retirement of his predecessor, Hassan Gouled Aptidon. He’s been in power for 26 years and, like his peers above, has no plans to step down.

Like other African strongmen, in 2021 he was re-elected with 98.58% of the vote. Djibouti, like Eritrea, is located in the Horn of Africa. Guelleh appears to be preparing to die in office—just like many of his fellow African rulers..

Now the question is:

Do you think being president is just a job like any other that one should leave after some time? Or is dying in office the true sign of strength, honor, and leadership?

– The End

This world

By Mwalimu HAKIZIMANA Maurice
📲 Follow me on WhatsApp: WhatsApp Channel
📘 Follow me on Facebook: Facebook Page