Africa’s aging presidents lead the youngest people in the world

The presidents of Cameroon and Ivory Coast, who are 92 and 83 years old, respectively, are attempting to prolong their decades-long rule. This is part of a global pattern in Africa where some of the oldest leaders in the world rule over their youngest citizens, which frequently results in calls for accountability and change from “Gen Z” youngsters.

Here are some statistics regarding some of the oldest leaders of the continent.

Paul Biya, 92, of Cameroon

Biya has been in power since 1982, making him the oldest non-monarchical head of state in history. Centralized government and constitutional amendments to prolong his term have been hallmarks of his leadership. Although opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma has declared victory, Biya may be declared the winner of the October 12 presidential election. Tchiroma has warned of possible anarchy in the 30-million-person country, where the median age is 19.

Togo’s Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové (86)

Savi de Tové became Togo’s oldest president when he took office in May of last year following a constitutional change to a parliamentary system. The change made it possible for former president Faure Gnassingbe to remain in charge of the government, prolonging an uninterrupted dynastic rule that started when his late father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, took control in a coup in 1967. The population of phosphate-producing Togo is close to 10 million, with a median age of 19.9.

Malawi’s Peter Mutharika (85)

Following a spectacular political comeback, Mutharika regained power in October 2025. Due to poverty and climate change, Malawi, a country of 22.2 million people with a median age of 18.8, has seen an increase in calls for governance reforms and economic revitalization.

Ivory Coast’s Alassane Ouattara (83)

Since 2010, Ouattara has guided Ivory Coast’s economic expansion and post-conflict rebuilding. Protest bans, arrests, and the exclusion of opposition leaders have preceded his contentious run for a fourth term in the October 25 election. There are 33 million people living in Ivory Coast, and the median age is 18.3.

Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (83)

Obiang is the longest-serving president in history, having held the office since 1979. In addition to overseeing an oil boom that has already peaked, he has been charged with corruption and violating human rights, charges he refutes. Equatorial Guinea’s economy is contracting due to a drop in oil earnings. It has around 2 million residents, with a median age of 22.

Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa (83)

Following the overthrow of Robert Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa became power. He has presided over hyperinflation, economic unrest, and accusations of repression, all of which he denies. In a country of 17 million people, with a median age of 18, protests have been triggered by his allies’ push for a third term, which goes beyond constitutional bounds.

Republic of Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso (81)

Aside from a civil conflict that lasted from 1992 to 1997, Sassou Nguesso has controlled Congolese politics since 1979. Constitutional amendments and accusations of electoral fraud, which he refutes, have characterized his rule. The median age of the 6.5 million residents of the oil and gas-producing country is 19.5.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni (81)

now taking power in 1986, Museveni has brought stability to Uganda, but his reign has now come to be associated with authoritarianism and crackdowns on the opposition. There are almost 51 million people living in Uganda, and the median age is only 17.

Liberia’s Joseph Boakai (80)

Boakai defeated incumbent and former football player George Weah to become president of Liberia, a country rebuilding from civil conflicts, in January 2024. The median age of the 5.7 million people who live in Liberia is 19.2.

Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune (79)

Since 2019, Tebboune has served as Algeria’s leader, concentrating on combating corruption and expanding the country’s economy beyond oil and gas. He is criticized for not bringing about democratic renewal to expand power beyond a close-knit elite. The median age of Algeria’s 47 million residents is 29.

Djibouti native Ismail Omar Guelleh (77)

Since 1999, Guelleh has ruled over Djibouti’s 1 million inhabitants, taking use of the country’s advantageous location to draw in foreign investment and military installations. His government has come under fire for a lack of political freedom despite economic advances. 26 is the median age.

Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu (73)

In May 2023, Tinubu was elected president of Nigeria, promising anti-corruption and economic reforms. Africa’s most populous nation, with a median age of only 18, is plagued by inflation and instability.