AFRICA’ S LONGEST- SERVING LEADERS

Teodoro Obiang Nguema has never received less than 97 per cent of the vote in an election. On Monday, Equatorial Guinea’s leader was surely all set for another seven years in a seat that has no doubt molded to his figure. One-sixth of 54 African countries have an executive who has been in power for more than 20 years. Here are eight of the powerful figures:

TEODORO OBIANG NGUEMA

Country: Equatorial Guinea History: Came to power in a 1979 coup, named president in October 1982 Years in power: 36

YOWERI MUSEVENI

Country: Uganda History: Took office in 1986 after winning a war which ousted Idi Amin; elected to fifth term in February in a poll marred by fraud allegations Years in power: 29

JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS

Country: Angola History: Leader of party which won independence from Portugal; in power since 1979 Years in power: 36

KING MSWATI III

Country: Swaziland History: One of the world’s last absolute monarchs, acceded to the throne in April 1986, four years after the death of his father Years in power: 29

ROBERT MUGABE

Country: Zimbabwe History: The only living African leader continuously in power since his country’s independence Years in power: 35

OMAR AL- BASHIR

Country: Sudan History: Has ruled since he seizing power in a coup in 1989; he’s the only head of state wanted for genocide and war crimes for his crimes in Darfur Years in power: 26

PAUL B I YA

Country: Cameroon History: Became president in 1982, revised constitution in 2008 to remove presidential term limits Years in power: 32

IDRISS DEBY

Country: Chad

Election history: Became leader in December 1990, after a war which ousted a previous dictator; won a controversial fifth term in April 2016 elections

Years in power: 25