Jamesty
There has been a new generation of leaders emerging in Africa in recent years, and they have taken the reins of their respective states at relatively young ages. Africa is a continent that is undergoing dramatic development. When these individuals come to power, they frequently do so with the promise of reform, progress, and a new perspective on the difficulties that their respective countries are now confronting. The following is a list of some of the youngest presidents that are currently ruling African states as of the year 2025
List Of Top 10 Youngest Presidents In Africa 2025
1. Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso
Ibrahim Traoré, a native of Burkina Faso, was born in 1988. Captain Ibrahim Traoré is one of the youngest leaders in Africa. He has been serving as the interim President of Burkina Faso since September 2022. He became an important character in the political scene of West Africa as a result of his rise to power, which was the result of a military conquest.
2. Mahamat Déby, Chad
Chad Mahamat Déby was born on April 4 for the year 1984. In April of 2021, upon the passing of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, Mahamat Déby took over as the interim President of Chad following his father’s passing. His leadership ushers in a moment of transition in the political landscape of the nation, marking a generational shift in the political landscape.
3. Assimi Goïta, Mali
Military actions have been a big part in Colonel Assimi Goïta’s climb to the president in Mali. He first staged a coup in August 2020 that removed Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta from the presidency. After a short time, he mounted a second coup in May 2021, taking out the transitional leaders and naming himself interim President. Goïta is a professional military officer who has worked in Mali’s special forces and trained with various Western countries. People mostly saw his acts as reactions to what they said was a failure of civilian authorities to deal with the country’s serious security problems, especially the ongoing Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region.
4. Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea
In September 2021, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya became Guinea’s interim President after organizing a military coup that toppled President Alpha Condé. Doumbouya, who used to be a French Legionnaire, was in charge of Guinea’s elite Special Forces Group. He said that the coup was necessary because the previous government was corrupt and didn’t care about democratic values, especially when it came to changing the constitution to let Condé run for a third term.
5. Bassirou Diomaye, Senegal
It was a great story of a political outsider becoming president when Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the election in March 2024. Faye, a former tax inspector and close friend of popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, ran for office from prison, where he was being held on accusations that his supporters said were politically motivated. His surprising victory, which was based on a strong anti-establishment and anti-corruption agenda, changed Senegalese politics in a big way.
6. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia
In April 2018, Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister of Ethiopia after being a member of the ruling coalition. At first, people praised him as a reformer, but he swiftly made big reforms, such as freeing political prisoners, loosening media restrictions, and making peace with Eritrea, which won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Abiy was a former intelligence officer with an expertise in information technology. He brought a supposedly modern and forward-thinking style of leadership to Ethiopia.
7. Daniel Chapo
Daniel Chapo became the president of Mozambique on January 15, 2025, after winning the general elections in October 2024. Many people were surprised that the long-ruling FRELIMO party chose him as their candidate because he was not as well-known as some of the other possible successors. Chapo was the governor of Inhambane Province from 2016 to 2024. He is a lawyer and a judge. He is important because he is the first FRELIMO presidential contender to be born after Mozambique became independent in 1975. This shows that the party is changing with the times.
8. Brice Oligui Nguema
In August 2023, Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema took over in Gabon after a military coup that ended the Bongo family’s rule, which had lasted for almost 56 years. He was the transitional president at first, but in May 2025 he was chosen as Gabon’s fourth president after winning the presidential election in April 2025 by a considerable margin. Oligui Nguema is a high-ranking military officer and used to be the leader of the elite Republican Guard. He is also a maternal cousin of the former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, which adds another layer of familial dynamics to the political change.
9. Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar
Andry Rajoelina has made some amazing comebacks in his political career in Madagascar. He took power in 2009 with the help of the military and was the transitional president until 2014. He stood for president in both the 2018 and 2023 elections after being out of service for a while and won both times. Before becoming a politician, Rajoelina was a successful business owner and the mayor of Antananarivo, the capital city. His political brand frequently focuses on young people, energy, and national growth.
10. Duma Boko, Botswana
In November 2024, Duma Boko became the first person to be sworn in as President of Botswana. As the head of the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), he won the election. This was the first time the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had been in power for a long period, lost its position since the country became independent in 1966. Boko is a well-known lawyer with degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Botswana. He has been a strong supporter of human rights and has worked hard to make the UDC a strong political force.
