Many African leaders have stayed in power for decades, despite the continent’s professed commitment to democracy.
Constitutional amendments, electoral fraud, and the silencing of political opponents have all contributed to these dictators’ long stays in power.
Some of these leaders have been in power for a long time, but they have been accused of corruption, human rights abuses, and bad leadership.
You will find a list of the longest-serving current African heads of state and monarchy below, sorted by the number of years they have been in office.
President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea has been in office for 44 years.
He has been in office as president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979, making him the continent’s longest-serving head of state.
He holds the record for longest presidency in history, not just in Africa.
Obiang Teodoro overthrew his uncle Francisco Macas Nguema in a military coup in August 1979.
Cameroon’s long-serving President Paul Biya
Since 6 November 1982, President Paul Biya of Cameroon has been in office. He is one of the oldest heads of state in the world and has been in office longer than any other African leader.
France, one of Cameroon’s former colonial powers, backs his government and helps fund and train the country’s armed forces.
Denis Sassou Nguese (Congo; 39 years in office) is the third.
President Denis Sassou Nguess of the Republic of the Congo has served for 34 years, however that time was spread out over several terms. He served the first time from 1979 to 1992 and then again in 1997, when a civil war had ended.
He has served as president longer than any other African leader.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni (4 years in office)
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has been in office since 1986, making him the fourth-longest serving head of state on the continent of Africa.
After defeating Milton Obote and Idi Amin in a military coup in Uganda, he gained government in January 1986.
Since Museveni came to power, there has been no record of an election in Uganda being deemed free and fair.
Eswatini’s King Mswati III has been in power for 37 years.
King Mswati III of Eswatini (previously Swaziland) is the current monarch of the Swazi people.
He became the youngest monarch in history when, on April 25, 1986, at the age of 18, he was anointed Mswati III, Ingwenyama, and King of Swaziland.
His mother, Ntfombi Tfwala, is currently Queen Mother (Ndlovukati), therefore he shares power with her.
Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea has been in office for 30 years.
Isaias Afwerki was the country of Eritrea’s first leader. Isaias Afwerki, the current president of Eritrea, has been in power since the country declared its independence from Ethiopia in April 1993.
When it comes to African presidents, he has the sixth-longest tenure.
Letsie III of Lesotho has been in office for 27 years.
King Letsie III of Lesotho is Africa’s seventh-longest reigning monarch. After Moshoeshoe II died in a car accident in 1996, he took over as king.
King Charles II of England was in attendance at his coronation, which took place in Setsoto Stadium in October 1997.
King Letsie’s role as monarch of Lesotho is largely ceremonial due to the country’s constitutional monarchy.
8-year incumbent Ismal Omar Guelleh of Djibouti
Djibouti’s current leader is Ismal Omar Guelleh. He has been the leader of his country since 1999, giving him Africa’s eighth longest-serving leader.
After his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, had controlled Djibouti since independence in 1977, Guelleh was elected president in 1999. In 2005, 2011, and 2016, he won reelection.
9. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (reigning for 24 years).
The monarch of Morocco is Mohammed VI. He succeeded his father, King Hassan II, to the throne on 23 July 1999 and is a member of the ‘Alawi dynasty.
The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre ranks Mohammed as the seventh most prominent Muslim in the world in 2022, and he is also the ninth longest-ruling ruler in Africa.
Ten. Paul Kagame (Rwanda, 23 Years in Office)
Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda since 2000, is the continent’s tenth-longest-serving head of state.
Since 1994, Kagame has served as the country’s de facto leader, but he has paid less attention to day-to-day government in favor of the military, foreign policy, and national security.
When former president Bizimungu stepped down, he decided to run for office. In April of 2000, Kagame was sworn in as president.
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