List of African Countries and Their Presidents (2024)

As of December 2024, Africa’s political landscape is shaped by a diverse array of leaders, each influencing their nation’s trajectory in unique ways. This list of African countries and their Presidents highlights the current presidents, heads of governments, and other rulers across the continent, providing an overview of the political leadership that governs over 1.3 billion people.

Presidents of Northern African Countries

African Countries and Their Presidents

Below are the presidents of the various countries located in the North African region of Africa.

Algeria – Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Abdelmadjid Tebboune is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence. He is one of the oldest president in Africa.

Ceuta – Juan Jesús Vivas (Mayor)

Juan Jesús Vivas Lara is a Spanish politician who is the current Mayor-President of the autonomous city of Ceuta.

Egypt – Abdel Fattah El-Sisi

Abdel Fattah Saeed el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has served as the sixth and current president of Egypt since 2014.

Libya – Mohamed Yunus

Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi is a Libyan diplomat and the Chairman of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya since march 2021.

Melilla – Eduardo de Castro

The current and 5th Mayor-President of Melilla is Eduardo de Castro

Morocco – Aziz Akhannouch

Aziz Akhannouch is a Moroccan politician, businessman, and billionaire who is currently the Prime Minister of Morocco since his government took office on 7 October 2021.

Sudan – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (Incumbent)

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is a Sudanese politician and Sudanese Army general who is the de facto head of state of Sudan as the Commander-In-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces after leading a coup d’état in October 2021 that deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Tunisia – Kais Saied

Kais Saied is a Tunisian politician, jurist, and retired law professor currently serving as the 8th President of Tunisia since October 2019.

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Brahim Ghali

Brahim Ghali is a Sahrawi politician and military officer that serves as the current president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

Presidents of Eastern African Countries

Below are the presidents of the various countries located in the East African region of Africa.

Burundi – Évariste Ndayishimiye

General Évariste Ndayishimiye is a Burundian politician who has served as President of Burundi since 18 June 2020.

Comoros – Azali Assoumani

Azali Assoumani is a Comorian politician and military officer who has served as President of the Comoros since April 2019. He was also president from 2002 to 2006 and 2016 to February 2019. He became head of state after staging a coup d’état in 1999 and was elected president in 2002, 2016 and April 2019.

Djibouti – Ismaïl Omar Guelleh

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is the current President of Djibouti. He has been in office since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa.

Eritrea – Isaias Afwerki

Isaias Afwerki is an Eritrean political leader and partisan who has been the president of Eritrea since shortly after he led the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, ending the 30-year-old war for independence from Ethiopia.

Ethiopia – Sahle-Work Zewde

Sahle-Work Zewd is an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who is the president of Ethiopia since 2018, being the first woman to hold the office. She was elected as president unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on 25 October 2018.

Kenya – William Ruto

William Ruto is a Kenyan politician who is serving as the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022.

Madagascar – Andry Nirina Rajoelina

Andry Nirina Rajoelina is a Malagasy politician and businessman who has been the president of Madagascar since 2019.

Malawi – Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera

Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is a Malawian theologian and politician who has served as President of Malawi since June 2020.

Mauritius – Prithvirajsing Roopun

Roopun is the current president of Mauritius. He took the office on 2 December 2019

Mayotte – Ben Issa Ousseni (LR)

Ben Issa Ousseni is the President of the Departmental Council of Mayotte. He has been in office since July 1, 2021

Mozambique – Filipe Jacinto Nyusi

Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is a Mozambican politician serving as the fourth President of Mozambique since 2015.

Reunion – Nassimah Dindar

The chief of state of the country Reunion is the French President Emmanuel Macron. The president of the General Council, who acts as head of the government, is Nassimah Dindar.

Rwanda – Paul Kagame

Paul Kagame is a Rwandan politician and former military officer. He is the fourth and current president of Rwanda, having taken office in 2000.

Seychelles – Wavel Ramkalawan

Wavel Ramkalawan is a Seychellois politician and Anglican priest who has been serving as the president of Seychelles since 26 October 2020.

Somalia – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022.

South Sudan – Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit, also known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has been the President of South Sudan since its independence on 9 July 2011.

Tanzania – Samia Suluhu Hassan

Samia Suluhu Hassan is a Tanzanian politician who has been serving since 19 March 2021 as the sixth president of Tanzania.

Uganda – Yoweri Museveni

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa is a Ugandan politician who has been the 9th and current President of Uganda since 29 January 1986 making him one of the longest serving African leader today.

Presidents of Central African Countries

Below are the presidents of the various countries located in Central Africa.

Angola – João Lourenço

João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is an Angolan politician, who has served as the president of Angola since 26 September 2017.

Cameroon – Paul Biya

Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has served as the president of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. He is currently the longest serving head of state in Africa.

Central African Republic – Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Faustin-Archange Touadéra is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016.

Chad – Mahamat Déby

The current head of state of Chad is Transitional President Mahamat Déby, since 20 April 2021 following the death of his father, Idriss Déby.

Democratic Republic of Congo – Félix Tshisekedi

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 24 January 2019.

Republic of Congo – Denis Sassou Nguesso

Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician and former military leader. He is the current and 5th President of the Republic of the Congo.

Equatorial Guinea – Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is an Equatoguinean politician and former military officer who has served as the 2nd president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979. He is the longest-serving president of any country ever and the second-longest consecutively-serving current non-royal national leader in the world.

Gabon – Ali Bongo Ondimba

Ali Bongo Ondimba, is a Gabonese politician who has been the third president of Gabon since October 2009.

São Tomé and Príncipe – Carlos Manuel Vila Nova

Carlos Manuel Vila Nova is a São Toméan politician who is the fifth and current president of São Tomé and Príncipe, since 2 October 2021.

Presidents of Southern African Countries

Below are the presidents of the various countries in Southern Africa.

Botswana – Duma Gideon Boko

Duma Boko has been serving as the President of Botswana since November 1, 2024, marking him as the country’s sixth president.

Swaziland – King Mswati III (King)

The head of state of Swaziland is the king, currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986 after the death of his father King Sobhuza II in 1982 and a period of regency.

Zimbabwe – Emmerson Mnangagwa

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician who has served as President of Zimbabwe since 24 November 2017.

Lesotho – Sam Matekane (Prime Minister)

The current Prime Minister is Sam Matekane, who was sworn in on 28 October 2022.

Namibia – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Netumbo Nandi is Namibia’s first female president, having won 57% of the vote in a disputed election in November 2024. Her party Swapo has ruled since the country’s independence in 1990.

South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who, since 2018, is serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa

Zambia – Hakainde Hichilema

Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021.

Presidents of Western African Countries

Below are the presidents of the various countries located in the west African sub region of Africa.

Benin – Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon

Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon is a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016.

Burkina Faso – Ibrahim Traore

Ibrahim Traoré is a Burkinabé military officer who has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the 30 September 2022 coup d’état which ousted democratc president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

Cape Verde – José Maria Pereira Neves

José Maria Pereira Neves is a Cape Verdean politician who is currently the president of Cape Verde, having previously served as the Prime Minister of Cape Verde from 2001 to 2016.

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – Alassane Dramane Ouattara

Alassane Dramane Ouattara is an Ivorian politician who has been President of Ivory Coast since 2010. At 80, he is one of the oldest serving president in Africa.

The Gambia – Adama Barrow

Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician and real estate developer who has served as President of the Gambia since 2017.

Ghana – John Mahama

John Mahama is the president-elect of Ghana, having won the 2024 Ghanaian general election. He will be inaugurated as President of Ghana on 7 January 2025.

Guinea – Mamady Doumbouya

Mamady Doumbouya is a Guinean military officer serving as the interim president of Guinea since 1 October 2021. Doumbouya led a coup d’état on 5 September 2021 that overthrew the previous president, Alpha Condé.

Guinea-Bissau – Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló

Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló is a Bissau-Guinean politician serving the president of Guinea-Bissau since 27 February 2020.

Liberia – Joseph Boakai

Joseph Boaki is currently the president-elect of Liberia after winning the 2023 general election. Boakai previously served as the 29th vice president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Mali – Colonel Assimi Goïta

Colonel Assimi Goïta is a Malian military officer who has been interim President of Mali since 28 May 2021.

Mauritania – Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, is a Mauritanian politician and retired Mauritanian Army general who is the 9th President of Mauritania, having assumed office on 1 August 2019.

Niger – Abdourahamane Tchiani

abdourahamane tchiani, is a Nigerien politician who is the current military president of the Republic of Niger after a coup that ousted Bazoum. He has been in office since 27 July 2023.

Nigeria – Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the 16th and current president of Nigeria, having assumed office on 29 May 2023.

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha – Nigel Phillips

Nigel Phillips is the Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. He is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom’s overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

Senegal – Bassirou Diomaye

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax inspector, politician, and former general secretary of the dissolved PASTEF party, stood as a presidential candidate in the 2024 election, replacing the disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko. He defeated the incumbent Macky Sall, who had been President of Senegal since April 2012.

Sierra Leone – Julius Maada

Julius Maada Bio is a Sierra Leonean politician, and the current president of Sierra Leone since 4 April 2018.

Togo – Faure Gnassingbé

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma is a Togolese politician who has been the president of Togo since 2005.