As of October 2025, several African leaders remain at the helm well into their eighties, underscoring the continent’s enduring trend of long-serving presidents.
Leading the list is Paul Biya of Cameroon, aged 92, who has ruled since 1982, making him Africa’s second-longest-serving president after Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea. Obiang, now 83, has been in power since 1979.
Also aged 83 are Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and Alassane Ouattara of the Ivory Coast, both leaders who continue to wield significant influence in their respective countries’ political landscapes.
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, aged 81, has been president since 1986, maintaining a firm grip on power through successive elections and constitutional amendments.
Most have overseen decades of stability mixed with criticism over democratic space and succession planning.
While their experience brings continuity, questions persist about generational transition, governance, and the future of leadership on the continent.
As Africa’s youthful population grows increasingly vocal about reform and inclusion, the presence of ageing leaders continues to fuel debate over term limits and leadership succession in modern African politics.
