In recent years there has been a subtle surge of politicians in their 30s and 40s winning leadership roles in Africa, one of them is Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed who at 44 is the youngest president in Africa, He is closely followed by Madagascar’s Andry Rajoelina who is 46 years old. They both became presidents of their respective countries in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Scroll down to see the Top 10 Youngest Serving Presidents (and kings) in Africa as at 2021.
Top 10 Youngest Presidents in Africa (Updated: 2021)
1. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia (Age: 44)
Abiy joined the armed struggle aged 15 & later became a military intelligence officer in the Ethiopian National Defense Force. He has a degree in Computer Engineering, MBA, MA in Leadership, Diploma in Cryptology & a PhD in Peace & Security.
2. Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar (Age: 46)
Rajoelina dropped out of college-aged 19 to start an events company called Show Business. His business empire has expanded to include radio & tv stations.
Andry Rajoelina is the second Youngest Presidents in Africa
3. Mswati III, Swaziland (Age: 52)
Mswati III is currently the youngest head of state in Africa.
Together with his mother, Ntombi Tfwala, now Queen Mother, he rules the country as an absolute monarch. Mswati III is known for his practice of polygamy and currently has 15 wives. Although he is respected and fairly popular in Swaziland, his policies and lavish lifestyle have led to local protests and international criticism
4. Faure Gnassingbe, Togo (Age: 54)
He then won a controversial presidential election on 24 April 2005, and was sworn in as President. Gnassingbé was re-elected for a second term in 2010.
In the April 2015 presidential election, Gnassingbé won a third term, defeating his main challenger, Jean-Pierre Fabre, by a margin of about 59% to 35%, according to official results
5. George Weah, Liberia (Age: 54)
After defeating Vice President Joseph Boaka in the 2017 election, George Weah (Former professional footballer) became the President elect of Liberia. Making him the fifth youngest president in Africa.
6. Adama Barrow, Gambia (Age: 56)
7. Letsie III of Lesotho (Age: 57)
8. Félix Tshisekedi, (Age: 57)
Tshisekedi was the UDPS party’s candidate for president in the December 2018 general election, which he won, despite accusations of irregularities from several election monitoring organisations and other opposition parties. His victory was upheld by the Constitutional Court of the DRC after another opposition politician, Martin Fayulu, challenged the result, but Tshisekedi has been accused of making a deal with his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.
The election marked the first peaceful transition of power since the DRC became independent from Belgium in 1960.
9. Macky Sall, Senegal (Age: 59)
10. Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya (Age: 59)
Uhuru was re-elected for a second term in the August 2017 general election, winning 54% of the popular vote. The win was formally declared on national television by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Wafula Chebukati. However, Uhuru’s election was successfully challenged in the Supreme Court of Kenya by his main competitor, Raila Odinga. On 1 September 2017, the court declared the election invalid and ordered a new presidential election to take place within 60 days from the day of the ruling. A new presidential election was held on 26 October, which he won, with 39% participation due to voter fatigue, voter apathy and being boycotted by the opposition
Make sure you checkout our list of Top 10 Oldest presidents in Africa (updated)
Extra
Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon (Age: 62)
Ali Bongo Ondimba is a Gabonese politician who has been President of Gabon since October 2009. Before him, His father Omar Bongo was the President of Gabon from 1967 to 2009, when he died. During his father’s presidency, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1991 and represented Bongoville as a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1991 to 1999; subsequently he was Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2009. Following his father’s death after 41 years in power, he was first elected in the August 2009 presidential election and was again re-elected in August 2016, in elections marred by numerous irregularities, arrests, human rights violations and post-election violence.
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