In the modern era of global politics, we often speak of “terms” and “transitions.” But for five specific nations in Africa, those concepts are practically foreign. There are five men currently in power who have held their positions for nearly two centuries combined.
Individually, they are survivors; together, they represent a masterclass in how to dismantle democracy from the inside out. They started as liberators, coup leaders, or constitutional successors, but they all arrived at the same destination: Power without end.
The Faces of the “Dinosaurs”
| Leader | Country | Years in Power | Path to Power |
| Teodoro Obiang | Equatorial Guinea | 46 Years | 1979 Military Coup |
| Paul Biya | Cameroon | 43 Years | Constitutional Succession |
| Denis Sassou Nguesso | Republic of Congo | 41 Years* | Coup / Civil War Return |
| Yoweri Museveni | Uganda | 39 Years | Liberation War |
| Isaias Afwerki | Eritrea | 32 Years | Independence Leadership |
| *Combined terms | 201 |
1. The Family Business: Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang is the world’s longest-serving non-royal leader. After overthrowing his brutal uncle in 1979, he didn’t bring freedom; he brought a different kind of control.
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The Legal Loophole: When term limits were introduced in 2011, they were structured so they didn’t apply to him retroactively.
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The Dynasty: His son, “Teodorin,” serves as Vice President despite international convictions for money laundering and a penchant for buying Ferraris while the country faces high poverty rates.
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The Cost: Dissent leads to the notorious Black Beach prison, where torture and disappearances are documented realities.
2. The Absentee Landlord: Cameroon
At 92 years old, Paul Biya is the oldest head of state in the world. He often governs from luxury hotel suites in Switzerland while his country faces separatist wars and economic crises.
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The 2008 Pivot: When Biya reached his term limit in 2008, he simply removed it and granted himself immunity from prosecution.
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The Repression: Protests against these changes led to the deaths of an estimated 100 people. Today, he remains in power, recently sworn in for another 7-year term that could see him lead until age 99.
3. The “Liberator” Trap: Uganda
Yoweri Museveni famously said in 1986 that the problem with Africa was leaders who overstayed their welcome. Thirty-nine years later, he is the embodiment of that statement.
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Changing the Rules: He removed term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017 (which involved actual fistfights in Parliament).
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Crushing the New Guard: In 2021, he faced pop-star-turned-politician Bobi Wine. The response was a nationwide internet shutdown and security forces killing 54 people in just two days.
4. The Nation Frozen in Time: Eritrea
Isaias Afwerki is the only president Eritrea has ever known since its independence in 1993.
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No Elections: Afwerki has stated that elections aren’t “meaningful” in the African context. He hasn’t held one in 32 years.
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Indefinite Service: The country operates on a system of “National Service” that can last decades, leading the UN to describe it as forced labor and causing a mass exodus of refugees.
5. The Return by Force: Republic of Congo
Denis Sassou Nguesso is unique because he actually lost an election in 1992 and stepped down—only to return via a bloody civil war in 1997.
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The Blueprint: Like the others, he orchestrated a referendum in 2015 to scrap age and term limits.
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The Successor: He is currently grooming his son, “Kiki,” to take over the oil-rich nation where 40% of the population lives in poverty.
The Playbook: How to Stay in Power Forever
How do they do it? The methods are remarkably consistent across the continent:
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Constitutional Vandalism: Remove term and age limits whenever they become an obstacle.
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Control the Guns: Ensure the military and intelligence services are loyal through patronage or ethnic ties.
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Performative Democracy: Hold elections, but ensure the outcome is 90%+ in your favor through fraud and intimidation.
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Family Ties: Position children or relatives in key “heir apparent” roles to ensure the system survives the individual.
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International Complicity: Western nations often prioritize “stability” and oil deals over democratic values, shaking hands with these leaders while issuing hollow condemnations of their human rights records.
The Uncomfortable Truth
These five men have not stayed in power by accident. They built systems piece by piece, leveraging fear, law, and family. As long as the international community prioritizes strategic interests over the rights of the citizens in these nations, the “200-Year Club” will likely continue to grow.
The tragedy is not just the longevity of these leaders, but the generations of citizens who have never known what it feels like to choose a new path for their country.