Africa's Long-Serving Leaders Defy Retirement and Democracy
Originally Published 3 months ago — by NPR
Many African countries are led by very old leaders, with Cameroon’s Paul Biya, at 92, being the oldest, seeking an eighth term amid ongoing issues like violence and corruption. Other long-serving leaders include Malawi's Peter Mutharika, Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara, Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang, and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa, all in their 80s. Despite the prevalence of gerontocracies, youth protests and emerging younger leaders signal potential shifts in Africa's political landscape.