Outgoing Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos will step down from power after almost four decades in which he led Angola through Civil war and positioned Angola as one of the fastest growing economies with more than 90% of the country’s revenue coming from oil production
The continent is home to many leaders who have held office for two decades or more. Dos Santos is Africa’s Second longest serving leader trailing Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea by just a month.
Here is a look at Africa’s longest serving leaders
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (born 5 June 1942) has been the President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979 He led Equatorial Guinea’s emergence as an important oil producer in the 1990s. Obiang was Chairperson of the African Union from 31 January 2011 to 29 January 2012. He is the second longest-serving leader in Africa and the longest-serving president in the world.
Robert Mugabe (born February 21, 1924) has served as prime minister of Zimbabwe since 1980, and has been the nation’s president since 1987. Mugabe was Chairperson of the African Union from 30th January 2015 to 30th January 2016.
Paul Biya (Born on 13 February 1933) the second President of the State of Cameroon. He assumed office on 6 November 1982 following the resignation of President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Denis
Sassou Nguesso (born 23 November 1943) is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Republic of the Congo since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992 at the end of a civil war.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician who has been President of Uganda since 29 January 1986.
King Mswati III (born on 19 April 1968) of Swaziland is Africa’s last absolute monarch and has served for more than 31 years. He acceded to the throne of the tiny southern kingdom in April 1986.
