FACT FILE: Paul Biya and Africa’s Oldest Presidents in Power

Across Africa, political leadership continues to feature several presidents well into their 70s and 80s, with some remaining in office for decades amid debates about leadership renewal and generational change.

Below is a list of some of the oldest presidents currently in power on the continent:

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1. Paul Biya – 92 years
   President of Cameroon since 1982, making him the oldest serving head of state in Africa and one of the longest-serving leaders globally.
2. Alassane Ouattara – 83 years
   President of Ivory Coast since 2011 and recently re-elected for another term.
3. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – 83 years. Leader of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, making him one of the world’s longest-serving presidents.
4. Emmerson Mnangagwa – 83 years
   President of Zimbabwe since 2017.
5. Nangolo Mbumba – 83 years
   Assumed office as president of Namibia in 2024.
6. John Dramani Mahama – 67 years
   President of Ghana since 2025.
7. Yoweri Museveni – 81 years
   Leader of Uganda since 1986.
8. Abdelmadjid Tebboune – 79 years
   President of Algeria since 2019.
9. Ismail Omar Guelleh – 77 years
   President of Djibouti since 1999.
10. Bola Ahmed Tinubu – 73 years
    President of Nigeria since 2023.
11. Joseph Boakai – 80 years
    President of Liberia since 2023.
12. Jean-Lucien Savi de Tove – 86 years
    President of Togo since 2025.

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Many of these leaders have shaped their nations’ political trajectories for decades, though their continued stay in power often fuels debate about democratic reforms, constitutional term limits, and the need for generational transition in governance across Africa.