List of African Countries
and Their Presidents
(2025)
As of January 2025, 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
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 MayorPresident 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 – Juan José Imbroda
The current and 6th Mayor-President of Melilla is Juan José Imbroda of the
People’s Party, who has held the office since 7 July 2023
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
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 – Taye Atske Selassie
Taye Atske Selassie has been serving as the president of Ethiopia since
October 7, 2024, succeeding Sahle-Work Zewde. He has held various
ambassadorial roles at the United Nations and previously served as the
country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs..
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 – Dharam Gokhool
Dharam Gokhool is the current president of Mauritius. He took the office in
December 2024.
Mayotte – Ben Issa Ousseni
Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France, and like Réunion, it
does not have a separate president. The head of government is the President
of the Departmental Council of Mayotte, which is currently Ben Issa Ousseni,
who assumed office in 2021. However, the President of France, is the head of
state for Mayotte as part of France.
Mozambique – Daniel Chapo
Daniel Chapo, a lawyer and jurist, became the fifth president of Mozambique
on January 15, 2025, following an election fraught with allegations of fraud.
The election results were contested by both the opposition and the European
Union. In the aftermath, deadly protests erupted, resulting in at least 250
fatalities, primarily demonstrators, who were killed by police and military
forces.
Reunion – Marie-Huguette Antoinette Bello
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 Marie-Huguette Antoinette Bello.
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 Museveni 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 – Brice Oligui Nguema
Brice Oligui Nguema is the current transitional president of Gabon. A member
of the Bongo family, he played a key role in the coup d’état that ousted his
cousin, Ali Bongo, due to issues with election transparency. After the coup,
he established the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of
Institutions to manage the country’s governance during the transition. He is
also one of the youngest presidents in Africa.
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 of Ghana, having secured victory in the 2024
Ghanaian general election. His win marked a significant return to the nation’s
highest office, following a previous tenure from 2012 to 2017. He was
officially inaugurated on 7 January 2025, stepping into his second term as
President.
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 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.
List of African Countries and Their
Presidents (2025)
Country
President
Algeria
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Angola
João Lourenço
Benin
Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon
Botswana
Duma Boko
Burkina Faso
Ibrahim Traore
Burundi
Évariste Ndayishimiye
Cabo Verde
José Maria Pereira Neves
Cameroon
Paul Biya
Central African Republic
Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Chad
Mahamat Déby
Comoros
Azali Assoumani
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Alassane Dramane Ouattara
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Félix Tshisekedi
Djibouti
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
Egypt
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Eritrea
Isaias Afwerki
Eswatini (Swaziland)
King Mswati III
Ethiopia
Sahle-Work Zewde
Gabon
Brice Oligui Nguema
Gambia
Adama Barrow
Ghana
Nana Akufo-Addo
Guinea
Mamady Doumbouya
Guinea-Bissau
Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló
Kenya
William Ruto
Lesotho
Sam Matekane (Prime Minister)
Liberia
Joseph Boakai
Libya
Mohamed Yunus
Madagascar
Andry Nirina Rajoelina
Malawi
Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
Mali
Colonel Assimi Goïta
Mauritania
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
Mauritius
Dharam Gokhool
Mayotte
Ben Issa Ousseni
Melilla
Juan José Imbroda
Morocco
Aziz Akhannouch
Mozambique
Daniel Chapo
Namibia
Netumbo Nandi
Niger
Abdourahamane Tchiani
Nigeria
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Réunion
Marie-Huguette Antoinette Bello
Rwanda
Paul Kagame
São Tomé and Príncipe
Carlos Manuel Vila Nova
Sahara Arab Democratic Republic
Brahim Ghali
Senegal
Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Seychelles
Wavel Ramkalawan
Sierra Leone
Julius Maada Bio
Somalia
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa
South Sudan
Salva Kiir Mayardit
Sudan
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Swaziland
King Mswati III (King)
Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan
Togo
Faure Gnassingbé
Tunisia
Kais Saied
Uganda
Yoweri Museveni
Zambia
Hakainde Hichilema
Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa