Africa’s old-guard leaders

Africa's democratic landscape is marked by a persistent irony: many of its most senior politicians remain entrenched in power, often well into their advanced years. These leaders frequently manipulate weak institutions, alter constitutions, and leverage state machinery to extend their tenures, as seen in Cameroon where 93-year-old President Paul Biya has been abroad since June 7, 2026, on what the presidency termed a brief private stay. His prolonged absence, reportedly in a Swiss hospice, is his longest known period outside the country since taking office in 1982, making him the world's oldest serving head of state and Africa's second-longest-serving president.

Amidst growing political uncertainty due to Biya's absence, ruling party officials and government spokespersons maintain that the state is functioning normally and that the president is governing remotely. This narrative echoes past assurances from Nigeria, where spokespersons for former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari similarly claimed their principals could govern from anywhere during frequent foreign medical trips, with Yar’Adua eventually dying in office.

The article points to the cautionary tale of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who ruled for 37 years until he was forced out at age 93 in 2017. His successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83, has shown similar tendencies, recently enacting constitutional changes that extend presidential terms to seven years and alter election processes. While Nigerian leaders have generally avoided a "sit-tight" mentality, some have served at ages where leadership demands become challenging. The late President Buhari himself admitted in 2015 that at 72, there were limits to what he could do.

Incumbent President Bola Tinubu also undertakes frequent trips abroad, often described as vacations or working visits, which fuel persistent speculation about his age and health. The conduct of these aging rulers is increasingly viewed as insulting and embarrassing by their citizens, who question the continued relevance and capacity of leaders who seem unwilling to cede power.