List of West African Countries and their Presidents (2024)

This list includes the West African countries and their presidents in 2024. It provides a clear view of the current political leaders in the region. This resource is helpful for anyone looking to learn more about West Africa and its governance.

West African Presidents and their Presidents

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.

Presidents of Western African Countries

Last Updated November 2024