The departure of Daniel arap Moi in December after leading Kenya for 24-years has seen Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe move one notch up among the world’s longest surviving leaders. Moi was number 22 while Mugabe was number 28. Mugabe has moved one notch up and is now at number 27.
Though currently the most talked about African leader, Mugabe is number 7 among the longest African leaders. Leading the pack is Togolese president Gnassingbe Eyadema who has been in power since 14 April 1967. Omar Bongo of Gabon who assumed office on 2 December 1967 closely follows him. Libyan leader Muammar al Gaddaffi came to power on 1 September 1969 while France Albert Rene of the Seychelles has been in power since 5 June 1977.
The next three are within one year of each other with Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea taking office on 3 August 1979, Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola coming to power on 21 September 1979 and, Mugabe on 18 April 1980.
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