Africa's Aging Leadership Crisis: Elderly Presidents Rule the World's Youngest Continent

Oct 25, 2025 12:20 am CST

Africa faces a striking generational paradox where some of the world's oldest leaders govern its youngest populations. With presidents like Cameroon's Paul Biya (92) and Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara (83) seeking to extend decades-long tenures, this leadership disconnect is fueling demands for change from a predominantly youthful electorate. This comprehensive analysis examines twelve elderly African heads of state governing populations with median ages often below 20, highlighting the continent's brewing generational governance crisis.