It might surprise you to know that, although we are proud to be Africans, we have little to no idea about the continent.
Hence, we decided to start with one topic we deem important and that is, knowing the current presidents (2022) of each African country.
Interested in knowing who the current presidents of each African countries are? keep on reading
Presidents of East African countries
Burundi – Évariste Ndayishimiye
General Évariste Ndayishimiye is a Burundian politician who has been the country’s President since June 18, 2020.
Ndayishimiye was inaugurated in as Burundi’s ninth president on June 18, 2020, in the capital city of Gitega, after winning 68 percent of the national vote in an election rocked by violence and the unexpected death of Nkurunziza (his processor) ten days earlier.
Also read: 10 African Countries with Good Road Networks
Comoros – Azali Assoumani
Azali Assoumani is a Comorian politician and military officer who has been the Comoros’ President since April 2019. He also served as President from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2016 to February 2019. He became president after conducting a coup in 1999 and was re-elected in 2002, 2016, and April 2019.
Djibouti – Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
Djibouti’s current President is Ismael Omar Guelleh. He has been in power since 1999, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.
Guelleh was the only contestant on the ballot in the 2005 election and received 100% of the vote.
Eritrea – Isaias Afwerki
Isaias Afwerki is an Eritrean political leader and partisan who has served as President of Eritrea since shortly after leading the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, effectively completing the 30-year-long fight for independence from Ethiopia.
Ethiopia – Sahle-Work Zewde
Sahle-Work Zewd is an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who has served as the country’s president since 2018, making her the country’s first female president. On October 25, 2018, members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly unanimously elected her as president.
Kenya – William Ruto
William Ruto is a Kenyan politician who became the country’s sixth and current president on September 13th, 2022.
Prior to his current position, he was Kenya’s 11th deputy president from 2013 to 2022. He formerly held cabinet roles such as Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Higher Education.
Madagascar – Andry Nirina Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina is a Malagasy politician and businessman who has served as Madagascar’s president since 2019.
He previously served as the president of a provisional administration from 2009 to 2014, following a political crisis and military-backed coup.
Malawi – Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is a Malawian theologian and politician who has been the country’s President since June 2020.
In addition to being the president, he also serves as the Minister of Defence under Malawi’s constitution.
Mauritius – Prithvirajsing Roopun
Roopun is Mauritius’ seventh and current president. He took office on December 2, 2019.
Mayotte – Ben Issa Ousseni
Although governed by France, Mayotte is in Africa. Ben Issa Ousseni is the President of the Mayotte Departmental Council and he has been president since July 1, 2021.
Mozambique – Filipe Jacinto Nyusi
Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is a Mozambican politician who has been serving as the country’s fourth President since 2015.
Reunion – Nassimah Dindar
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, is the head of state of Reunion. Nassimah Dindar is the president of the General Council and the acting head of government.
Rwanda – Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is a former military officer and Rwandan politician. He is Rwanda’s fourth and current president, having assumed office in 2000.
He was the AU’s Chair from 2018 to 2019 and the East African Community’s Chair from 2018 to 2021.
Seychelles – Wavel Ramkalawan
Wavel Ramkalawan is a Seychellois politician and Anglican priest who has served as Seychelles’ president since October 26, 2020.
Somalia – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a Somali politician who has been the country’s president since May 2022.
South Sudan – Salva Kiir Mayardit
Salva Kiir Mayardit, usually known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has served as the country’s President since the country’s independence on July 9, 2011.
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, becoming the world’s youngest republic.
Tanzania – Samia Suluhu Hassan
Samia Suluhu Hassan is a Tanzanian politician who has been Tanzania’s sixth president since March 19, 2021.
Uganda – Yoweri Museveni
Museveni, Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa is a Ugandan politician who has been the country’s 9th and current President since January 29, 1986, also making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
President of West African Countries
Benin – Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon
Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon is a Beninese politician and businessman who has served as the country’s President since April 6, 2016.
Burkina Faso – Ibrahim Traore
Ibrahim Traoré is a Burkinabé military officer who has served as the country’s interim leader since the 30 September 2022 coup that deposed interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
Cape Verde – José Maria Pereira Neves
José Maria Pereira Neves is a Cape Verdean politician who is presently the President of Cape Verde after serving as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2016.
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – Alassane Dramane Ouattara
Alassane Dramane Ouattara is an Ivorian politician who has served as the country’s President since 2010. At the age of 80, he is Africa’s oldest president.
The Gambia – Adama Barrow
Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician and real estate developer who has been the Gambia’s President since 2017.
Ghana – Nana Akufo-Addo
Ghana’s current president is Nana Akufo-Addo, who won the 2020 presidential election by 4.23% against previous President John Dramani Mahama. On January 7, 2021, he was sworn in for his second term.
Guinea – Mamady Doumbouya
Mamady Doumbouya is a Guinean military colonel who has served as the country’s interim president since October 1, 2021. On September 5, 2021, Doumbouya spearheaded a coup that deposed the incumbent president, Alpha Condé.
Guinea-Bissau – Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló
Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló is a Bissau-Guinean politician who has served as Guinea-president Bissau’s since February 27, 2020.
Liberia – George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian politician and former professional footballer who has been the country’s president since 2018. He is one of Africa’s youngest presidents.
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 – Mohamed Bazoum
Mohamed Bazoum, the current President of the Republic of Niger, is a Nigerien politician. He has been president since April 2, 2021.
Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari is the 15th and current president of Nigeria, having assumed office on 29 May 2015.
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha – Nigel Phillips
Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha is Nigel Phillips. He is the British monarch’s representative in the United Kingdom’s overseas territories of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.
Senegal – Macky Sall
Macky Sall is a Senegalese politician who has served as Senegal’s President since April 2012.
Sierra Leone – Julius Maada
Julius Maada Bio is a Sierra Leonean politician who has served as the country’s president since April 4, 2018.
Togo – Faure Gnassingbé
Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma is a Togolese politician who has been the country’s president since 2005.
President of Southern African Countries
Botswana – Mokgweetsi Masisi
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is the fifth and current President of Botswana, serving since 2018.
Swaziland – King Mswati III (King)
The king of Swaziland is King Mswati III, who took to the throne in 1986 following 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 been the country’s President since November 24, 2017.
Lesotho – Sam Matekane (Prime Minister)
Sam Matekane is the current Prime Minister, having been sworn in on October 28, 2022.
Namibia – Hage Gottfried Geingob
Hage Gottfried Geingob is a Namibian politician who has been the country’s third president since March 21, 2015. Geingob served as Namibia’s first Prime Minister from 1990 to 2002, and then again from 2012 to 2015.
South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who has been the country’s fifth democratically elected president since 2018.
President of Northern African Countries
Algeria – Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune is an Algerian politician who has served as President of Algeria and Minister of Defense since December 2019. He is one of Africa’s oldest presidents.
Egypt – Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Abdel Fattah Saeed el-Sisi is a retired Egyptian military colonel who has been Egypt’s sixth and current president since 2014.
Libya – Mohamed Yunus
Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi is a Libyan diplomat who has served as Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council since March 2021.
Morocco – Aziz Akhannouch
Aziz Akhannouch is a Moroccan politician, businessman, and millionaire who has served as Morocco’s Prime Minister since October 7, 2021.
Sudan – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (Incumbent)
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is a Sudanese politician and Sudanese Army officer who is the de facto head of state of Sudan as the Commander-In-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces after staging a coup in October 2021 that overthrew Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Tunisia – Kais Saied
Kais Saied is a Tunisian politician, jurist, and retired law professor who has been the country’s eighth president since October 2019.
President of Central African Countries
Angola – João Lourenço
Joo Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is an Angolan politician who has been the country’s president since September 26, 2017.
Cameroon – Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the country’s president since November 6, 1982. He is currently Africa’s longest-serving leader of state.
Central African Republic – Faustin-Archange Touadéra
President of the Central African Republic since March 2016, Faustin-Archange Touadéra is a Central African politician and professor.
Chad – Mahamat Déby
Since the death of his father, Idriss Déby, on 20 April 2021, Chad’s current head of state is Interim President Mahamat Déby.
Democratic Republic of the Congo – Félix Tshisekedi
Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is a Congolese politician who has served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 24, 2019.
Republic of Congo – Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician and former military commander. He is the current and fifth President of the Republic of the Congo.
Equatorial Guinea – Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is an Equatoguinean politician and former military commander who has served as Equatorial Guinea’s second president since August 1979. He is the world’s longest-serving president and the world’s second-longest consecutively serving non-royal national leader.
Gabon – Ali Bongo Ondimba
Ali Bongo Ondimba is a Gabonese politician who has served as Gabon’s third president since October 2009.
So Tomé and Prncipe – Carlos Manuel Vila Nova
Carlos Manuel Vila Nova is a So Toméan politician who has served as the country’s fifth and current president since 2 October 2021.