Written By Lisa Murimi
In Central Africa, three of the continent’s longest-serving leaders—Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea(45 years), Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo(40 years), and Paul Biya of Cameroon(42 years)—are nearing the twilight of their rule.Â
With ages ranging from 79 to 91 and each holding power for over four decades, these leaders have governed with few checks on their authority, including a lack of constitutional limits on presidential terms and age.
This pattern of prolonged rule isn’t new in Africa; leaders like Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire, Gnassingbé Eyadema of Togo, and Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon also maintained their grip on power for decades with each respectively ruling for 33, 40 and 42 years.
As these leaders aged, their regimes faced intense internal rivalries and potential destabilization, a scenario now looming over Equatorial Guinea, Congo, and Cameroon.
Succession conflicts are particularly acute in Equatorial Guinea and Congo, where dynastic transitions appear likely.
In Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Nguema Obiang, the eldest son of Mbasogo, is poised as a potential successor, though his reputation as a spendthrift overshadows his political acumen.
Meanwhile, in Congo, President Nguesso’s son, Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, faces resistance from within his family and ruling elite, particularly from powerful cousins.
Cameroon presents a different challenge. President Biya has kept his family out of politics, but the lack of a clear successor within the ruling party could lead to fierce power struggles, exacerbating existing ethnic tensions, particularly between the Bulu-Béti and Bamiléké communities.
As these leaders edge closer to the end of their reigns, the potential for instability grows, threatening not just their nations but the broader Central African region.
The coming years will be pivotal in determining whether these countries can navigate these transitions without descending into chaos.
