The Power Hoarders: Meet Africa’s Top 5 Longest-Serving Presidents Still In Office

Many African countries have celebrated many democratic victories over the years after gaining their independence, ushering in different governments which have affected changes one way or the other whether negative or positive. What has kept these countries going is knowing that at the end of each leader’s tenure the people can make the choice of changing the government’s outlook rather than leaving it at the hands of one person for years to come. On the other hand, there are those powers hoarders, the ones addicted to power so much that they refuse to hand over the baton at the end of their tenure and continue to influence elections term after term keeping power in their own hands, meanwhile they claim to be democratic leaders.

The African Union Charter on Democracy which came into force in 2012, was designed to guard against undemocratic governance, usher in good governance, democracy and security, which several African countries have adopted and agreed to uphold the terms, with the hope of erasing Africa’s image as a continent of ignorance, poverty, disease, misrule and corruption. However, not all African leaders were willing to give into these democratic reforms and have continued to resist these terms year after year, overstaying their welcome and undermining the noble intentions of the AU’s founders to repair leadership in Africa. Meet Africa’s top 5 power hoarders who have still refused to give up the office till today:

1. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo- The president of Equatorial Guinea since 1979 till date (39 years in office)
2. Paul Biya- The President of Cameroon since 1982 till date (36 years in office)
3. Yoweri Museveni- The President of Uganda since 1986 till date (32 years in office)
4. Omar al-Bashir- The president of Sudan since 1989 till date (29 years in office)
5. Idriss Déby- The President of Chad since 1990 till date (28 years in office)

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