7 Most Influential African Presidents In 2023

As African nations increasingly embrace democracy, we are witnessing the rise of capable African Presidents. Africa is demonstrating that strong leaders can accomplish wonders for their countries. This post features seven of Africa’s most influential presidents. For this list, we analyzed numerous crucial qualities to being an influential African leader that are important to country growth and development.

Some of these criteria include national performance in the United Nations’ Human Development Index, Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG). Let’s get started now.

 7. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Algeria)

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, born 17 November 1945, is an Algerian politician who has served as President of Algeria and Minister of Defense since December 2019. He succeeded former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Acting Head of State Abdelkader Bensalah. He previously served as Prime Minister of Algeria from May to August 2017.

He was also the Minister of Housing from 2001 to 2002 for a year, and again from 2012 to 2017. President Tebboune has significantly improved the lives of Algerians since taking office following his victory in the 2019 Presidential elections. His inclusive leadership style has transformed the infrastructure and health care sectors.

6. Jose Maria Neves (Cabo Verde)

José Maria Pereira Neves, born March 28, 1960, is a Cape Verdean politician who is presently the President of Cape Verde, having previously served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2016. He is a member of the African Party for Cape Verdean Independence (PAICV). In the 2021 presidential election, he received 51.7% of the vote, defeating his nearest challenger Carlos Veiga, who received 42.4% of the vote.

President Neves has surpassed first-year expectations since returning to office as President after serving as Prime Minister. His campaign pledges emphasized the need for “strength and stability,” and he has unquestionably delivered.

5. Aziz Akhannouch (Morocco)

Aziz Akhannouch, born December 31, 1961, is a Moroccan politician, businessman, and millionaire who has served as Morocco’s Prime Minister since his cabinet took office on October 7, 2021. He is the CEO of Akwa Group and served as Agriculture Minister from 2007 to 2021. PM Akhannouch has carried on Prime Minister Othmani’s solid work after taking office in 2021.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, he has made investments in education, health, and transportation. Akhannouch’s political career has also been marked by a number of controversies.

4. Kais Saied (Tunisia)

Kais Saied, born 22 February 1958, is a Tunisian politician, jurist, and retired law professor who has been the country’s 8th President since October 2019. From 1995 to 2019, he served as president of the Tunisian Association of Constitutional Law. Tunisia’s President Saied is a product of the Arab Spring. Since taking office as President in 2019, Saied has implemented reformist measures aimed at accelerating economic development.

3. Hage Geingob (Namibia)

Hage Gottfried Geingob, born 3 August 1941, is a Namibian politician who has been the country’s third president since 21 March 2015. Geingob served as Namibia’s first Prime Minister from 1990 to 2002, and then again from 2012 to 2015. Geingob was Minister of Trade and Industry from 2008 to 2012.

He is also the current president of the ruling SWAPO Party, having been elected in November 2017. As President, he has reformed the educational system, reorganized the civil service, and improved infrastructure.

2. Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana)

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, born 21 July 1961, is Botswana’s fifth and current President, having taken office in 2018. From 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018, he served as Botswana’s 8th Vice President. One thing is certain about Botswana: many of Africa’s problems do not apply to this southern African country. This is not a coincidence, since Botswana’s President has performed admirably.

1. Prithvirajsing Roopun (Mauritius)

Prithvirajsing Roopun, commonly known as Pradeep Singh Roopun, is a Mauritian politician who has been the country’s seventh president since 2019. President Roopun’s time as head of state has been nothing but positive two years after the turmoil that shook Ameenah Gurib-Fakim’s administration.

Since his election, the island nation has been reinventing itself to market itself as Africa’s top tourist destination. Mauritius has risen to the top of all positive indexes as a result of this repositioning.