Museveni Ranks Fourth Longest-Serving African President

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda now ranks as the fourth longest-serving president in Africa, having been in power for 40 years.

Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo holds the top spot, with 46 years in leadership. He is followed by Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has served for 43 years since 1982.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, is in third place, accumulating 42 years in power through two distinct periods of rule. President Museveni’s 40-year tenure, which began in 1986, places him fourth on the list, having been elected for seven terms.

Other long-serving African leaders include King Mswati III of Eswatini (39 years), Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki (since 1993), Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (since 1999), Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (since 1999), and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame (head of state since 2000, with political control since 1994).

Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé also held a long tenure, initially assuming power in 2005 after his father’s death, later transitioning to a role with executive powers.