Photos and bios of the current Heads of State, Dictators and First Ladies
Patrice Talon, President of Benin (elected on Mar 20, 2016) Patrice Talon (born 1 May 1958) is a Beninese businessman and politician who was elected President of Benin on 20 March 2016. Known as the “King of Cotton” for his involvement in the cotton industry, Talon was a backer of President Thomas Boni Yayi,...Read More »
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo (Brazzaville) Has been President since 1997. Re-elected on March 20, 2016 with 60.4% of the vote. Turnout: 71%. Denis Sassou Nguesso (born 1943) is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Republic of the Congo since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992....Read More »
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda (re-elected on Feb 18, 2016 with 60.8% of the vote) Born Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, c. 1944 (Museveni is reportedly unsure of the exact year of his birth), in Ntungamo, Ankole, Uganda; son of Mzeyi Amosi Kaguta (a cattle rancher) and Esteri Kokundeka; married Janet Kataha; children: four. Education:...Read More »
Faustin Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic (Elected on Feb 14, 2016) Faustin-Archange Touadéra (born 21 April 1957) is a Central African politician and academic who served as Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from January 2008 to January 2013. According to the announcement of the national electoral authority made on February...Read More »
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso (elected on Nov 29, 2015) Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 25 April 1957) is a Burkinabé politician who was elected as President of Burkina Faso in 2015. Previously he served as Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 1994 to 1996 and President of the National Assembly of Burkina...Read More »
John Magufuli, President of Tanzania He has served in the Cabinet of Tanzania as Minister of Works since 2010. Previously he was Deputy Minister of Works from 1995 to 2000, Minister of Works from 2000 to 2006, Minister of Lands and Human Settlement from 2006 to 2008, and Minister of Livestock and Fisheries from...Read More »
Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote d’Ivoire (re-elected on Oct 25, 2015 with 83.7% of the votes) Alassane Dramane Ouattara (born 1 January 1942) is an Ivoirian politician who has been President of Côte d’Ivoire since 2011. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – where he rose to be deputy head...Read More »
Alpha Conde, President of Guinea (since Dec 21, 2010) UPDATE from Oct 11, 2015: In presidential elections, incumbent Alpha Conde wins 57.8% of the vote. Alpha Conde (born March 4, 1938) is the current President of Guinea (took office on 21 December 2010). Alpha Conde is the leader of the Rally of the People of Guinea...Read More »
Nouri Abusahmain, President of Libya (since Aug 4, 2014) Nouri Abusahmain (Arabic : نوري أبو سهمين) is a Libyan politician. He is a major figure on the Islamist side of the 2014 Libyan Conflict and founder of the LROR group which is considered “terrorist” by the internationally recognized Libyan parliament. He is reported to...Read More »
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of Mali (since Sept 4, 2013) Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (born January 29, 1945), or as he is often known IBK, is a Malian politician who has been President of Mali since 2013. Previously he was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of...Read More »
Sprent Dabwido, President of Nauru (since Nov 10, 2011) Sprent Jared Dabwido was born on September 16, 1972. Dabwido is a close relative of former parliamentarian Audi Dabwido, who served in the first parliament of Nauru in 1968. Dabwido was elected to parliament in the 2004 general elections, defeating Nimrod Botelanga to win the seat...Read More »
Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan (since Jul 11, 2011) On July 9, 2011, South Sudan becomes an independent country. Salva Kiir becomes President. In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the Anyanya in the First Sudanese Civil War. By the time of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, he was a low-ranking officer. In 1983, when...Read More »
Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, President of Somaliland (since Jul 26, 2010) Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud “Silanyo” (Somali: Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud “Siilaanyo”, Arabic: احمد محمد محمود سيلانيو) is a Somali politician. He is the current Chairman of the Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye) political party and President of Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic internationally recognized as an...Read More »
Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of Togo (re-elected on Jan 22, 2020 with 72.4% of the vote) Update: On Apr 25, 2015, he is re-elected with winning 58.8% of the vote. Turnout 60%). Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé (born June 6, 1966), also known as Faure Eyadéma, has been the President of Togo since May 4, 2005;...Read More »
Mswati III, King of Swaziland (Eswatini) Mswati III (born Makhosetive on April 19, 1968) of Swaziland is the king of Swaziland, and head of the Swazi Royal Family. He succeeded his late father, Sobhuza II, in 1986. Early life He was the second of 210 sons of the elderly King Sobhuza II, (who had...Read More »
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Former President of Nigeria Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua was born in Katsina Town, Katsina State in 1951. He started his primary education at Rafukka Primary School, Katsina in 1958. He left Rafukka for Dutsinma Boarding Primary School in 1962 from where he completed his primary education in 1964. Between 1965-1969,...Read More »
Letsie III, King of Lesotho His Majesty King Letsie III is the first son of the late King Moshoeshoe II and Queen Mother ‘Mamohato Bereng Seeiso. He was born at Scott Hospital in Morija on July 17 1963 and named Mohato Bereng Seeiso. He was christened into the Roman Catholic Church as David. He...Read More »
Isaias Afwerki, President of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki the president of the eight year independent country Eritrea, was a soldier. He was a fighter and a political leader in Eritrea. Isaias is a well respected man he fought for better things for the Eritrean people and for the countries history. Isaias Afwerki has been the...Read More »
