5 longest-serving world leaders who have served 188 years in power together
An African proverb says, “Water smells when it stays in a pot for too long,” but can the same be said about the 5 longest-serving world leaders who have served a total of 188 years in power?
While the least is longer than we have captured in this publication, this post does not include smaller countries. It also excludes big countries with presidents who have served less than 31 years.
The 5 leaders considered are currently in power and have served between 30 and 44 years continuously, thus having a grip on their nations and people. Whatever their long reign in leadership, they either do not practice democracy or they have a blend of democracy that allows such long periods; the constitutions have been crafted to permit such long stays in power; or the leaders came to power through some form of coup or kingship arrangement.
5 longest-serving world leaders who have served 188 years in power together
#1: President Teodoro Obiang is the first of the 5 longest-serving world leaders
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the head of state or president of Equatorial Guinea. He leads the table with 44 years of presidency. Equatorial Guinea is an African country located in west-central Africa.
President Teodoro Obiang has been in office since August 3rd, 1979.
Teodoro Obiang was born on June 5, 1942, and he is currently 81 years old. Equatorial Guinea does not practice a monarchical system of government; however, the 44-year reign of Teodoro Obiang makes him the second-longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world.
#2. President Paul Biya
The longest-serving world leader is Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, who has ruled for 41 years since he took over office on November 6, 1982.
Before he became the leader, he served as the prime minister of the country. The unexpected resignation by President Ahidjo opened the door for Paul Biya to rise to the presidency. While Paul Biya is the second-longest-serving leader in power, he is also the oldest president in the world at the age of 91. He was born on February 13, 1933.
#3. President Yoweri Museveni
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni takes the third spot as the third longest-serving world leader. He has led the people of Uganda for the past 38 years. He became the 9th president of Uganda after serving as a military officer and revolutionary. He ruled Uganda with an autocratic iron hand during his tenure. Museveni lost democratic elections 24 years ago, in 1980, and started what became known as the Ugandan Bush War. This war led to the overthrow of Milton Obote. The Ugandan Bush War leader and president of Uganda was born on September 15, 1944. He is currently 79 years old.
#4: President Ali Khamenei
President Ali Khamenei makes up our 4th president, who has reigned the longest and is still in office. He is the President of Iran. For 34 years, he has led and continued to enjoy power. Ali Khamenei is an Iranian Twelver Shia marja’ and politician.
He took office as president way back in 1989 after serving as the nation’s third president between 1980 and 1990.
#5. President Emomali Rahmon is the last of the 5 longest-serving world leaders with over 30 years of reign.
For 31 years, President Emomali Rahmon has been in power with no end in sight to his reign. As a statesman, he is the 3rd President of Tajikistan. He took office on November 16, 1994.
Before rising to the presidency, Emomali Rahmon was the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Tajikistan. This position alone made him a de facto head of state. He held this position from November 20 to November 16, 1994.
In 1990, he was elected the People’s Deputy at the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan’s twelfth convocation.
He is 71 years old and was born on October 5, 1952. For 31 years, he has held on to power.
Out of the five leaders captured in this post, the first three are African and have served at least 30 years.
READ: Wars In Africa Are A Threat To US – Report Says
The longest-serving world leaders currently in power (years in power):
Below is the list of leaders and how long they have been in power as presidents of their respective countries and counting. The 5 longest-serving world leaders are the first five on the list below.
🇬🇶 Teodoro Obiang: 44 years
🇨🇲 Paul Biya: 41 years
🇺🇬 Yoweri Museveni: 38 years
🇮🇷 Ali Khamenei: 34 years
🇹🇯 Emomali Rahmon: 31 years
🇧🇾 Alexander Lukashenko: 29 years
🇯🇴 Abdullah II: 25 years
🇧🇭 Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa: 25 years
🇲🇦 Mohammed VI: 24 years
🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin: 24 years
🇷🇼 PauKagame: 2323 years
🇸🇾 Bashar Assad: 23 years
🇹🇷 Recep Tayyip Erdogan: 21 years
🇦🇩 Joan Sicília: 20 years
🇦🇿 Ilham Aliyev: 20 years
🇵🇸 Mahmoud Abbas19 yearsrs
Note: smaller countries were left off the list.