Africa is one of the continents where age is just a number when it comes to holding political powers. This is even made worse by the type of democracy practiced in Africa, which is more nominal than practical.
Here are the top 10 oldest African presidents who believe they are capable even when age is seriously telling on them.
10. Alassane Ouattara – Ivory Coast
Age: 78 years (January 1st, 1942)
9. Yoweri Museveni – Uganda
Age: 75 years (15 September 1944)
Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni was involved in rebellions that toppled Ugandan leaders Idi Amin (1971–79) and Milton Obote (1980–85). He was therefore seen by the West as a hero – a part of a new generation of African leaders. But the 73-year-old has since played fast and loose with the rules, scrapping Presidential term limits in 2005 to enable the extension of his rule.
8. Nana Akufo-Addo – Ghana
Age: 76 years (29 March 1944)
Nana Akufo-Addo is the President of Ghana. He took over from former President John Mahama in January 2017. He had previously served the country as an Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007. He lost the race for President twice – in 2008 and again in 2012.
7. Muhammadu Buhari – Nigeria
Age: 77 years (17 December 1942)
Nigeria’s President Buhari came into democratic power in 2015. He had been unsuccessful in earlier bids for the presidency in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections. The President who describes himself as a converted Democrat, previously served as the nation’s head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after he took power in a military coup d’état
6. Peter Mutharika – Malawi
Age: 79 years (1940)
Arthur Peter Mutharika has been President of Malawi since 31 May 2014. Mutharika has worked globally in the field of international justice. He is an expert on international economic law, international law and comparative constitutional law. He informally served as an adviser to his older brother, President Bingu wa Mutharika, on issues of foreign and domestic policy from the onset of his election campaign until the President’s death on 5 April 2012. Still looking agile and full of energy, Mutharika is currently 79 and that qualifies him to make the list of oldest African presidents at the moment.
5. Alpha Condé – Guinea
Age: 82 years (4th March 1938)
4. Manuel Pinto da Costa – São Tomé and Príncipe
Age: 83 years (August 5, 1937)
3. Abdelaziz Bouteflika – Algeria
Age: 83 years (March 2, 1937)
2. Paul Biya – Cameroon
Age: 87 years (February 13, 1933)
Paul hails from Cameroon and was born on February 13, 1933. Politics was always in Biya’s blood, and he has managed to be president for several terms, he has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. At the age of 85 and still in power, Paul Biya is the second oldest president in Africa and also ranks #7 in the list of top 10 oldest presidents in the world.
1. Beji Caid Essebsi – Tunisia
Age: 94 years (November 29, 1926)
Beji is Tunisia’s first freely elected president. He won the first regular presidential elections in 2014 at the age of 87. Previously, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1981 to 1986 and as Prime Minister from February 2011 to December 2011. He is now the oldest president in Africa – after the stepping down of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe – and the second oldest in the world.
