Photos and bios of the current Heads of State, Dictators and First Ladies
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa (Re-elected on May 22, 2019) Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African politician and the fifth and current President of South Africa. He became President following the resignation of Jacob Zuma. Previously an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader and businessman, Ramaphosa served as the...Read More »
David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia David W. Panuelo (born 1964) is a Micronesian politician who is serving as the ninth President of the Federated States of Micronesia. His term started on 11 May 2019. He attended the United States International University in Hawaii from 1973 to 1976 and then...Read More »
Laurentino Cortizo, President of Panama Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo Cohen (born January 30, 1953) is a Panamanian politician and the President of Panama from 2019 to 2024. Cortizo Cohen is the former President of the National Assembly and Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development. He was also a member of the National Assembly between 1994...Read More »
Stevo Pendarovski, President of North Macedonia (Elected on May 5 with 53.6% of the vote) Pendarovski graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje in 1987. He later earned his MA and PhD degrees in Political Science in the same university. Since 2008 he has been the Assistant...Read More »
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine (elected with 73% of the vote in a run-off on Apr 21, 2019) Born on 25 January 1978, Zelenskiy is a Ukrainian politician, screenwriter, actor, comedian and director. Prior to his political career, he obtained a degree in law and created the company Kvartal 95, which produces films, cartoons...Read More »
Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia (since Oct 20, 2014; on Apr 17, 2019 re-elected with 55.5% of the vote) Joko Widodo is of Javanese descent. He is the eldest son of Noto Mihardjo and Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo. He has three younger sisters, named Iit Sriyantini, Ida Yati and Titik Relawati. Before changing his name (changes...Read More »
Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan, President of Sudan Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan is a Sudanese Army general and politician who is currently serving as de facto Head of State of Sudan after Former Chairman Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf resigned and transferred control. He was formerly the head of the Sudanese ground forces. Omar H.A....Read More »
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Acting President of Kazakhstan Born 17 May 1953, Kassym Tokayev is a Kazakh politician and diplomat. He took office as the President of Kazakhstan on 20 March 2019, succeeding Nursultan Nazarbayev who resigned on 19 March 2019 after 29 years in office. He was Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan from 16...Read More »
Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia (takes office on Jun 15, 2019) Born 21 June 1973, Zuzana is a Slovak politician, lawyer, and activist who is the president-elect of Slovakia, due to take office on 15 June 2019. Čaputová will be the first woman to hold the presidency, as well as the youngest president in...Read More »
Macky Sall, President of Senegal (re-elected on Feb 24, 2019) Macky Sall was born on 11 December 1961. Under President Abdoulaye Wade, Sall was Prime Minister of Senegal from April 2004 to June 2007 and President of the National Assembly of Senegal from June 2007 to November 2008. He was the Mayor of Fatick...Read More »
Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria (since May 29, 2015; re-elected on Feb 23, 2019) Muhammadu Buhari GCFR (born 17 December 1942) is the President of Nigeria, in office since 29 May 2015. He is a retired Nigerian Army Major General and was Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August...Read More »
Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador (takes office on Jun 1, 2019) Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez (born 24 July 1981) is a Salvadoran politician and businessman who is the President-elect of El Salvador after winning the 2019 election. He is due to take office on 1 June 2019. Nayib Bukele ran as the candidate...Read More »
Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (since Jan 24, 2019) Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi (born 13 June 1963) is a Congolese politician who is the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the oldest and largest...Read More »
Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar (since Jan 19, 2019) Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born 30 May 1974) a Malagasy businessman and politician, is the president of Madagascar. He started his career in the private sector, first organizing events on the Island (Live concerts), and then investing the advertising business (Injet, billboards and print) and the...Read More »
Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia (On Nov 28, 2018 wins 59.5% of the vote) Salome Zurabishvili (born 18 March 1952) is a French-born Georgian politician who is the President-Elect of Georgia, due to take office on 16 December 2018. She will become the first woman to hold the office in a permanent capacity (with Speaker...Read More »
Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil (On Oct 28, 2018 wins 55.1% of the vote) Jair Messias Bolsonaro (born 21 March 1955) is a Brazilian politician and retired military officer who is the President-elect of Brazil. He has served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, representing the state of Rio de Janeiro, since 1991....Read More »
Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President of Vietnam (since Oct 23, 2018) Nguyễn Phú Trọng (born 14 April 1944) is a Vietnamese politician who is the current General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in office since 19 January 2011. He is also the President of Vietnam, de jure head of state of Vietnam, in...Read More »
Paul Biya, President of Cameroon (On Oct 7, 2018 re-elected by winning 71.3% of the vote) Born on February 13, 1933, in Mvomeka’a, Cameroon; married Jeanne Atyam, 1960; married Chantal; children: one. Education: Licence en Droit Public, Paris, 1960; diplome, Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Paris, 1961; diplome, Institut des Hautes Etudes d’Outre-Mer, 1962; diplome, Etudes...Read More »
