About 65 percent of the total population of Africa is below 35 years
of age. More than 35 percent are between the ages of 15 and 35 years.
This makes Africa the most youthful continent. Relatively few young
people are leading some African nations.
Here is a brief overview of the 10 youngest serving presidents and kings in Africa as of 2015.
John Dramani Mahama has been the President of Ghana since July 2012.
He served the nation as its Vice President between 2009 and 2012. He
assumed the office of the president on July 24 2012, when the then
president John Atta Mills died.
Ali Bongo Ondimba has been the President of Gabon since October 2009.
His father Omar Bongo was the President of Gabon from 1967 to 2009,
when he died.
Uhuru Kenyatta has been the President of Kenya since April 9 2013. He
is the fourth president of Kenya. His father Jomo Kenyatta was Kenya’s
first president.
Macky Sall has been the President of Senegal since April 2012. He
served as the Prime Minister of Senegal under President Abdoulaye Wade.
Later he formed his own party after coming to conflict with Wade. He
defeated Abdoulaye Wade in the 2012 presidential election.
6) Letsie III of Lesotho (Age: 51)
Letsie III is the reigning king of Lesotho. He succeeded his father,
Moshoeshoe II, when the latter was forced to exile in 1990. His father
regained the kingdom in 1995, but died in car crash in 1996. He was
27-year old with he took the crown.
5) Pierre Nkurunziza, Burundi (Age: 51)
Pierre Nkurunziza has been the President of Burundi since 2005. He
was the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of
Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDO-FDD), the ruling
party, until he was elected as President of Burundi. In August 2009, he
was awarded the “Model Leader for a New Africa Award” by AFREG.
4) Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia (Age: 49)
Yahya Jammeh is the President of the Gambia. He was a 29-year old
army officer when he assumed power in a 1994 military coup. It was a
bloodless coup. He seized power from President Dawda Jawara. Yahya
Jammeh was elected to the Office of the President of the Gambia; he was
re-elected in 2001, 2006 and 2011.
3) Faure Gnassingbe, Togo (Age: 48)
Faure Gnassingbe has been the President of Togo since May 4 2005. He
was appointed to the government by his father Gnassingbe Eyadema. When
Gnassingbe Eyadema passed away on February 5 2005, Faure Gnassingbe was
appointed the President. Army supported the appointment.
2) Mswati III, Swaziland (Age: 46)
Mswati III is the King of Swaziland. He is the head of the Swazi
Royal Family. He was crowned on April 25 1986. He inherited the kingdom
from his father Sobhuza II, the previous king. He was introduced as
crown prince in 1983. Assumed power following a 3-year regency at the
age of 18.
1) Joseph Kabila, D.R. Congo (Age: 43)
Joseph Kabila has been the President of the Democratic Republic of
Congo since January 2001. He assumed the Office of the President of the
Democratic Republic of Congo 10 days after the assassination of his
father, President Laurent-Desire Kabila. Becoming the world’s youngest
at the age of 29. He was elected as the president in 2006, and was
re-elected in 2011.
These young leaders have an opportunity to take Africa to great heights.
0 comments:
Post a Comment