Africa’s ageing Presidents cling to power
Publish date: 27 October 2025
Issue Number: 1149
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General
The Presidents of Cameroon and Ivory Coast, aged 92 and 83, are trying to extend their long periods in power, highlighting a trend in Africa where older leaders govern younger populations, reports Modern Diplomacy. This situation has led to calls for change from the youth, known as ‘Gen Z.’ Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon since 1982, is the oldest non-monarchical head of state globally. His time in office has seen a centralised government and constitutional tweaks to prolong his rule. The presidential election could see him declared the winner, even as opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma claims victory, leading to unrest in the country where the median age is 19. In Togo, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové is the oldest President at 86, having taken office under a new parliamentary system. This change allows former President Faure Gnassingbe to maintain leadership, continuing a dynasty that started with his father in 1967. Togo’s population has a median age of 19.9 years. Peter Mutharika of Malawi, aged 85, returned to power after political upheaval. Malawi faces poverty and climate issues, prompting demands for economic and governance reforms. The country has a median age of 18.8.
Alassane Ouattara (83) has led Ivory Coast since 2010, overseeing a recovery post-conflict while facing criticism for his attempt to seek a fourth term amidst unrest and bans on protests. The median age in Ivory Coast is 18.3. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, is the longest-serving leader. His administration has been marked by accusations of corruption amid a downturn in oil revenues. The median age in the country is 22. Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, also 83, took power in 2017 following Robert Mugabe’s removal. His presidency has been marred by economic crisis and allegations of repression, accordng to Modern Diplomacy. His supporters want him to run for a third term, which has led to protests. Zimbabwe’s median age is 18. Denis Sassou Nguesso (81) has been influential in the Republic of Congo since 1979, with rule characterised by constitutional changes and claims of electoral fraud. The country has 6.5m people and a median age of 19.5. Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni (81), has ruled since 1986, shifting from stabiliser to authoritarianism, with a population median age of 17. Joseph Boakai (80) became Liberia’s President in January 2024, and Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune(79), has been focusing on anti-corruption efforts since 2019. Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh (77), has been in power since 1999, and Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu(73), assumed the presidency in May 2023, promising reforms amid challenges like inflation and insecurity.
Four people were killed and several security forces injured in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in the city of Douala, Cameroon, reports Bluewin. According to the the governor of the Littoral region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, on Sunday evening, demonstrators had attacked a police station in the city. Elections were held in Cameroon on 12 October. The official results of the presidential election are expected today (Monday). In Cameroon, it is forbidden to announce the final result of the election before the official declaration by the Constitutional Council. However, the opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary had already declared himself the winner immediately after the election. Despite a ban on demonstrations, supporters of the opposition candidate and former Labour Minister Tchiroma took to the streets in several cities across the country over the past few days. Tchiroma had challenged former President Paul Biya, who was running again at the age of 92 after 43 years in power. According to polls, Biya had good prospects of continuing his decades-long rule. However, Tchiroma generated surprisingly high levels of enthusiasm among voters and there were fears that there could be electoral fraud. Biya has ruled the Central African country with a firm hand so far. He was up against 11 rivals, all of whom promised a fresh start for Cameroon – away from Biya's tight grip on public life.
Tchiroma claimed he won 54.8% of the votes against Biya’s 31.3%, and called on Cameroonians to protest if the Constitutional Council announces ‘falsified and distorted results’, reports Al Jazeera. Cameroon’s Government has rejected the opposition’s accusations of irregularities and urged people to wait for the official election results to be announced by the Constitutional Council today (Monday). Protests have since flared in several cities. Speaking from Douala, journalist Blaise Eyong said that the country’s youth, who make up the majority of the population, were particularly ‘furious’ at the alleged vote rigging by Biya’s camp. ‘You can really see the frustration and anger when you talk to young people,’ added Eyong, who noted that there are high rates of youth unemployment in Cameroon.
Former Ivory Coast Commerce Minister Jean-Louis Billon on Sunday conceded defeat to incumbent Alassane Ouattara in the presidential election, he said in a statement, as partial results showed Ouattara with a large lead in many localities, reports CNBC Africa. Billon was one of four opposition candidates challenging Ouattara, a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund who is seeking re-election to a fourth term. Billon tried and failed to get the backing of the opposition PDCI party, which is led by Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse who was ruled ineligible for Saturday’s election in the world’s biggest cocoa producer. Billiton offered his congratulations to Ouattara. Ouattara is the heavy favourite in the contest which unfolded without major disruption. Provisional results are expected within five days.
Djibouti's Parliament unanimously decided on Sunday to lift the age limit for Presidents of the country, which was fixed at 75 by the Constitution, reports africanews. This allows President Ismail Omar Guelleh (77), to re-run in next year's elections. Up to now, the Constitution of Djibouti limited the possibility of running for President to those of no more than 75 years. But on Sunday, all 65 lawmakers in the country's Parliament voted to remove the limit. The vote still needs to be approved by the President himself, following which, it will be confirmed by another vote in early November. Some contestation following the Parliament's decision took place on social media. To what extent the population really objects to IOG potentially staying in power is however almost impossible to confirm, as freedom of speech and freedom of the press are severely restricted. IOG has ruled the country for the past 26 years, after becoming President for the first time in 1999. Djibouti is a unitary presidential republic, where power is mainly concentrated in the hands of the president, and the country is considered as authoritarian. Despite being a small and not very populous country, Djibouti holds great international strategic significance due to is geographic location in the Horn of Africa. It is home to several foreign military bases, among them the US, Japan and France.
