Castro ruled for 49 years

– Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win Russia’s presidential election on Sunday, giving him a fourth term that would take him to nearly a quarter-century as the head of state or government.

Here are some of the world leaders who have held power the longest – excluding monarchs enthroned for life.

Topping the list with 49 years in power is Cuba’s revolutionary hero Fidel Castro, who handed over to his brother Raul in 2008, when he was in his 80s.

Taiwan’s first president, Chiang Kai-shek, was in charge on the island and in mainland China for a total of 47 years until his death in 1975.

North Korean founder Kim Il-sung ran the state for 46 years before dying in office in 1994.

Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya with an iron fist for almost 42 years before being slaughtered in 2011 by rebels.

Omar Bongo Ondimba governed Gabon for more than 41 years until his death in 2009.

Currently the world’s longest serving president is Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, with 38 years under his belt. – AFP

Others still counting their years in power:

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya – 35 years.

Congo President Denis Sassou – 34 years, excluding a five-year pause.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen – 33 years.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni – 32 years.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – 29 years.

Sudan’s President Omar alBashir – 28 years.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby – 27 years.

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev – 28 years.

Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon – 25 years.

Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki – 24 years.