African Presidents who have been in power for over 35 years

By Peter Ochieng

Several African countries, among them Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros and Togo are expected to conduct elections in the course of 2025.

The polls will most definitely usher in new leadership, with countries such as Cameroon being home to some of Africa’s long serving presidents.

Here, we look at African leaders who have been in power for 35 years and counting.

1. Teodoro Obiang

82-year-old Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is in his 46th year as Equatorial Guinea President.

After graduating from military school in Zaragoza, Spain, Obiang held multiple positions under the presidency of his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema.

He ousted Macías in a military coup in 1979 and took control of the country as president and chairman of the Supreme Military Council.

He led the country back to minimal civilian rule in 1982, when he founded the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.

2. Paul Biya

He assumed office as Cameroon President in 1982, which means this is his 43rd year in power.

He is the second longest serving African President, after Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang.

Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under Cameroon’s first President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as prime minister.

He succeeded Ahidjo as president upon the latter's surprise resignation in 1982, and has never looked back since then.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso

The former military officer became President of Congo Brazzaville in 1997. He also previously served as president from 1979 to 1992.

4. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

The former military officer has been President of Uganda since 1986.

He toppled Uganda’s 8th president, Milton Obote in a coup. Museveni is highly likely to contest for a new term during the general election in 2026.

5. King Mswati III

He ascended to the Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) 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.

He is widely known for marrying a new wife almost every year. As of December 2024, he reportedly had 16 wives and 45 children.