Africa is seeing a striking trend as its oldest leader is showing no signs of stepping down, and he's not alone in this troubling defiance of age and time.
Supporters of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) are seen holding campaign materials emblazoned with the image of President Paul Biya, who is also a candidate for the presidency.
Remarkably, history has a way of echoing itself, much like the moment back in 1897 when famed American author Mark Twain humorously declared that reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. We can draw parallels to the political landscape in Africa today, where several aging leaders have rebuffed rumors of their political demise. Take, for instance, Paul Biya of Cameroon, who faced swirling rumors about his health last year after he had not made any public appearances for an entire month. As it turns out, the 92-year-old, noted for being the world’s oldest non-royal leader, was merely staying at his secondary home in Switzerland, alive and well.
This Sunday, Biya is vying for an unprecedented eighth term as president—an impressive feat given that he has already governed Cameroon for 43 long years. Experts suggest his victory is virtually assured, considering his strongest competitor has been disqualified from the race. His administration grapples with significant challenges, including ongoing jihadist violence, separatist conflicts, and entrenched corruption.
Biya’s situation is far from unique across the continent. Africa, despite being home to the world’s youngest population, seems unexpectedly ripe with gerontocracy—a term that describes governments run by older leaders. Paul Nantulya, an analyst focused on African affairs, pointed out the irony in this phenomenon: "It is ironic for a continent whose median age is just 19 years," he observed. He further remarked that some leaders’ insistence on clinging to power is a troubling trend, which he refers to as "third-termism."
Let's delve into a few more examples of leaders whose ages are raising eyebrows across Africa:
Peter Mutharika, Malawi (85)
In what may seem counterintuitive, Malawi recently opted to return to older leadership by electing the former president, 85-year-old Peter Mutharika, over the 70-year-old incumbent Lazarus Chakwera. The decision reflects widespread discontent among Malawians regarding soaring prices and crippling fuel shortages, leading them to revert to a familiar face from the past.
Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast (83)
Next, we have Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara, who is campaigning for a fourth term this October. Interestingly, just a couple of years ago, Ouattara had declared he would not seek re-election, following a constitutional amendment that previously limited leaders to two terms. However, he later altered the constitution, allowing himself to run again, an act that ignited significant civil unrest. His nation, recovering from the aftermath of a savage civil war, continues to experience turmoil with protests escalating as opposition leaders have been barred from participating in the next elections.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea (83)
Following closely behind Biya in seniority is Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema, also 83 years old, who has ruled since ousting his uncle in a coup back in 1979. The oil-rich nation has functioned largely as a one-party state, characterized by heavily manipulated elections where Obiang often secures overwhelming majorities—sometimes even exceeding the total number of votes. The country faces a disastrous human rights record and a troubling deficit of press freedom, while the benefits of its oil wealth remain elusive for the average citizen.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe (83)
The final example is Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa, born just months after Obiang. Mnangagwa came into power by deposing former President Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017; at that time, Mugabe was the world's oldest leader at 93. Eight years later, the promises of reform and relief for a struggling economy have left many Zimbabweans feeling disappointed, and Mnangagwa now faces a burden of skepticism.
As a glimmer of hope, a younger generation is starting to make its presence known in Africa's political arena. Young Africans are increasingly vocal about their frustration with the status quo, spurring "Gen Z" protests across nations such as Kenya, Togo, Madagascar, and Morocco this year. Youthful leaders like Burkina Faso's 37-year-old interim president Ibrahim Traoré—who rose to prominence through a coup—are gaining traction among the populace. In Uganda, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, now 43, is gearing up to challenge 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni for the presidency next year.
This issue isn’t only contained to Africa. Leaders worldwide are aging; for example, Iran's Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei is 86, while King Salman of Saudi Arabia is 89. In the United States, the last two presidents, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, are now 82 and 79, respectively.
As we consider all these aging figures in leadership, a pressing question emerges: Should we embrace the wisdom that often comes with age, or is it time for a generational shift toward new leadership? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you side with the old guard, or are you ready for change? Let us know in the comments!
