20 Highest Paid African Presidents For 2020

Did you know that African leaders are among the highest salary earners in the world? Nothing is wrong with that except that the continent is vastly regarded as the least-developed. Poverty has its headquarters in Africa and from poor health to illiteracy and malnutrition, African leaders have a lot of things to fix if they must pocket massive salaries.

Sadly, most of the leaders are seemingly more interested in becoming wealthy through dubious means and this has seen them legitimatize earning enormous pay for services they mostly don’t render or don’t even know how to. The tale of the tragic leadership problem in Africa is a story for another day, let’s look at how much African presidents earn.

The figures below represent only their basic salary and do not include other outrageous amounts they pocket in the name of allowance.

Paul Biya of Cameroon Is the Highest-Paid African President

20. Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon

  • Date of Birth: 9th of February 1959
  • Assumption of office: 16th of October 2009
  • Salary: $65,000.
  • Net Worth: $1 billion

Ali-Bongo-Ondimba

The 20th African president with the highest annual salary is Ali Bongo Ondimba. He assumed office on October 16, 2009. His father Omar Bongo held the position of president of Gabon from 1967 until his demise in 2009. He is said to pocket an annual salary of $65,000.

19. Adama Barrow of Gambia

  • Date of Birth: 16th of February 1965
  • Assumption of office: 19th of January 2017
  • Salary: $65,000.
  • Net Worth: Not Available 
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Adama Barrow is a prominent real estate developer in the Gambia who is also the current President of this West African nation. He was inaugurated as president on January 19, 2017, and demanded that his cabinet members declare their assets before being sworn in. He earns $65,000.

18. Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi

  • Date of Birth: 5th of April 1955
  • Assumption of office: 28th of June 2020
  • Salary: $74,300
  • Net Worth: Unknown

Lazarus Chakwera is the 6th and current President of Malawi. He was sworn in on the 28th of June 2020. Lazarus is set to earn a basic annual salary of $74,300 in a country where the rural areas make up 85% of the population.

17. Nana Akufo- Addo of Ghana

  • Date of Birth: 29th of March 1944
  • Assumption of Office: 7th of January 2017
  • Salary: $76,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: Unknown
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Nana Akufo is the current President of Ghana. He was sworn into office on January 7, 2017, during an inauguration ceremony which was held at the Black Star Square in Accra, in the presence of about 12 heads of states from Africa and Europe. He isn’t new on the Ghana Political terrain, before becoming president he served as minister of foreign affairs from 2003-2007. His basic annual salary is $76,000.

16. Paul Kagame of Rwanda

  • Date of Birth: 23rd of October 1957
  • Assumption of Office: 22nd of April 2000
  • Salary: $85,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: $500 million

Commendable

Paul Kagame is the fourth and current President of Rwanda. He came into power on April 22, 2000, and has successfully suppressed the aftermath of the bloody genocide of 1994 through several economic and legal reforms as well as criminalizing denial of historical revisionism of the genocide. As a result of his policies, Rwanda is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa; hence his annual salary of $85,000 isn’t seen as a rip-off.

15. George Weah of Liberia

  • Date of Birth: 1st of October 1966
  • Assumption of Office: 22nd of January 2018
  • Salary: $90,000
  • Net Worth: $87 Million
Latest 10 Most Educated African Presidents - No.1 Tops The World List
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January 22, 2018, would always be remembered in the history books in Liberia; not just because it was the day George Weah was sworn in as the 25th President of Liberia but also because he broke records by becoming the first former professional footballer to become the President of a country. During his inauguration, he expressed his desire to tackle corruption, illiteracy, and improve living conditions. He earns an annual salary of $90,000.

14. Hage Geingob of Namibia

  • Date of Birth: 3rd of August 1941
  • Assumption of Office: 21st of March 2015
  • Salary: $99,241
  • Net Worth: $500 million

African presidents academic qualifications

Hage Geingob is the current President of Namibia. He assumed office on the 21st of March 2015 thus making him the third president of Namibia. Before becoming president in 2015, Geingob served as Namibia’s prime minister from 19990-2002 and 2012-2015. His annual salary is said to be $99,241.

13. Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire

  • Date of Birth: 1st of January 1942
  • Assumption of Office: 4th of December 2010
  • Salary: $100,000
  • Net Worth: $1 – $5m 

president-of-ivory-coast

Alassane Ouattara is the current President of Côte d’Ivoire; he came into power on the 4th of December 2010 and is currently serving his second term as President. He is the fifth President of Ivory Coast and an economist by profession. Before becoming president, he held the position of prime minister from November 1990 – December 1993 and that of deputy managing director of the IMF from July 1994 – July 1999. He pockets $100,000 every year as his basic salary.

12. Fayez al-Sarraj of Libya

  • Date of Birth: 20th of February 1960
  • Assumption of Office: 30th of March 2016
  • Salary: $105,000
  • Net Worth: $4.7 billion
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Fayez al-Sarraj is the internationally recognized Libyan Prime Minister and head of the Presidential council. He hails from an affluent family that has always held a high position in government since the time of the Libyan Monarchy. Before becoming president, Fayez who is a professional architect served as Minister of Housing and Utilities during the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. That being said, he receives an annual income of $105,000.

11. Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville

  • Date of Birth: 23rd of November 1943
  • Assumption of Office: 25th of October 1997
  • Salary: $108,400
  • Net Worth: Unknown
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Denis Sassou Nguesso has been President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1979. As with most African leaders, his presidency has been plagued with gross mismanagement of public funds. In 2006, his son was accused of diverting oil sales and spending thousands of dollars, shopping in Dubai. While a huge percentage of its citizens live below the poverty line, Denis walks home with $108,400 annually as salary.

10. Azali Assoumani of Comoros

  • Date of Birth: 1st of January 1959
  • Assumption of Office: 26th of May 2016
  • Salary: $117,060
  • Estimated Net Worth: Unknown

There are a few African leaders whose love for power can rival that of Comoros’ President, Azali Assoumani. Before becoming President in 2016, he had held the position of president on two occasions; from 1999 to 2002 and again 2002 to 2006. He earns $117,060 per annum.

9. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia

  • Date of Birth: 11th of March 1962
  • Assumption of Office: 16th of February 2017
  • Salary: $120,000
  • Net Worth: Unkown
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When going through a list of highest-earning presidents, no one expects to find the president of a country with a $348 per capita income. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is a Somali diplomat and politician who is the current President of Somalia. He earns an annual salary of $120,000.

8. Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe

  • Date of Birth: 15th of September 1942
  • Assumption of Office: 24th of November 2017
  • Salary: $146,590 
  • Estimated Net Worth: $5 – $10 Million

Emmerson Mnangagwa is the 3rd and current President of Zimbabwe. He came into power on the 24th of November 2017 following a coup launched by the Lacoste faction of ZANU-PF, which led to the resignation of late President Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa pockets a whopping $146,590 annually as salary.

7. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea

  • Date of Birth: 5th of June 1942
  • Assumption of Office: 3rd of August 1979
  • Salary: $152,680
  • Net Worth: $600 million
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Having been at the helm of leadership in Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979, following the ousting of his uncle, Teodoro Obiang Nguema is the longest-serving president in Africa. His style of rule is best described as a legal dictatorship as the constitution gives him the power to issue a decree whenever he deems it fit. He earns about $152,680 yearly.

6. Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya

  • Date of Birth: 26th of October 1961
  • Assumption of Office: 9th of April 2013
  • Salary: $155,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: $500 million

Uhuru-Kenyatta-5

Uhuru Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s first-ever president, Jomo Kenyatta. Besides that, he is also the current president of Kenya. He assumed the office of president on the 9th of April 2013 and is currently in his second term.

Earlier, he served as the country’s deputy prime minister from April 2008 – April 2013. A year after becoming President, Kenyatta slashed the salaries of several government officials. This saw him take a pay-cut from $192,200 to $155,000 yearly. He is said to have a net worth of $500 million.

5. Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria

  • Date of Birth: 17th of November 1945
  • Assumption of Office: 19th of December 2019
  • Salary: $168,000
  • Net Worth: Unknown
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Abdelmadjid Tebboune is the 8th and current president of Algeria. He was born on November 17, 1945, and had his higher education at the National School of Administration in Paris, France. Before he assumed office on December 19, 2019, he served as prime minister from May 2017 – August 2017. He takes home an annual salary around $168,000.

4. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda

  • Date of Birth: 15th of September 1944
  • Assumption of Office: 29th of January 1986
  • Salary: $183,216
  • Net Worth: Unknown

Yoweri Museveni is the president of Uganda, a position he has held since 1986. While some love him for toppling tyrants like Idi Amin and Milton Obote, others despise him for involving Uganda in the crisis with the Lord Resistance Army, the scrapping of term limits, and the high rate of poverty in the country. Irrespective of whatever anyone feels, he takes home an annual salary of $183,216.

3. Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa

  • Date of Birth: 17th of November 1952
  • Assumption of Office: 15th of February 2018
  • Salary: $223,500
  • Estimated Net worth: $450 million

Cyril Ramaphosa is the 5th and current president of South Africa. He was born on November 17, 1952, and is a graduate of Law from the University Of Limpopo, South Africa. During his youthful days, he was very vocal in the struggle to bring apartheid to an end in the country.

Before becoming the President of South Africa in February 2018, he served as Deputy President from 2014 – 2018. Today, he is one of the highest-paid leaders in the world. He earns $223,500 and is one of the richest men in South Africa with a network of $450 million.

2. King Mohammed VI of Morocco

  • Date of Birth: 21st of August 1963
  • Assumption of the throne: 23rd of July 1999
  • Salary: $488,604
  • Estimated Net Worth: $2.1 billion
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Sidi Mohammed Bin Hassan al Alaoui who goes by the title King Mohammed VI is the current president of Morocco. As a matter of fact, he has held that position since July 23, 1999. His reign has seen drastic human rights reforms, economic reforms, and has given women more rights than they ever had in the country. He receives $488,604 per annum as salary and is said to be the richest King in Africa with a net worth of $2.1 billion.

1. Paul Biya of Cameroon

  • Date of Birth: 13th of February 1933
  • Assumption of Office: 6th of November 1982
  • Salary: $620,976
  • Estimated Net worth: $200 million

Paul-Biya-6

Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of the country since November 1982, making him the second longest-ruling non-royal head of state in the world. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who has been president of Equatorial Guinea for 41 years and counting takes the lead.

Biya was born on February 13, 1933, and was educated at the National School of Administration, Paris. He earns a whopping $620,976 annually which includes his basic salary, premium fees, fees of sovereignty, housing and transportation, and monthly allowances. Several sources claim Paul Biya has a net worth of $200 million.

Check out the Massive Salaries of Some Former African Presidents

7. Peter Mutharika of Malawi

  • Date of Birth: 18th of July 1940
  • Term of office: May 2014 to June 2020
  • Salary: $42,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: $55 million

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Peter Mutharika was the head of state and head of government of Malawi. He led the executive branch of the Government of Malawi and was the commander-in-chief of the Malawian Defence Force. He earned a basic salary of $42,000.

6. Ian Khama of Botswana

  • Date of Birth: 27th of February 1953
  • Term of office: 1st of April 2008 – 1st of April 2018
  • Salary: $66,713
  • Net Worth: Unknown

president-of-botswana

Ian Khama served as the president of Botswana. In 2012, he received a three percent salary increase, earning $66,713 per annum. Similarly, in 2016, President Khama’s salary was amended, together with that of cabinet ministers, the judiciary, and parliamentarians. The development saw the president’s salary leap by three percent to P670,888 (R869,000) per annum.

5. John Dramani Mahama of Ghana

  • Date of Birth: 29th of November 1958
  • Term of office: July 2012 – January 2017
  • Salary: $76,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: $1.9 million

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama arrives for a meeting with France's President at the Elysee Palace in Paris

John Dramani served as the president of Ghana from 24th July 2012 to 7th January 2017. In his time, his yearly salary was around $76,000. His salary and that of his ministers were hiked in 2012, causing an uproar among Ghanaian citizens. As a result, the President’s monthly salary went up from $4,240 to $6,357.

4. Jacob Zuma of South Africa

  • Date of Birth: 12th of April 1942
  • Term of office: May 2009 – 14 February 2018
  • Salary: $200,411
  • Estimated Net Worth: $20 million

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Zuma Jacob served as president of South Africa from May 2009 to February 2018. During his time, he was named among the highest-paid leaders in the world with a whopping annual salary of R2.9 million ($200,411).

3. José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola

  • Date of Birth: 28th of August 1942
  • Term of office: 21 September 1979 – 25 September 2017
  • Salary: $81,075.96
  • Net Worth: $20 million

Angola: Cerimónia de tomada de posse de José Eduardo dos Santos como Presidente da República

José Eduardo dos Santos is an Angolan politician who was the President of Angola from 1979 to 2017. He received a salary amounting to $81,075.96 per annum, making him one of the richest leaders in Africa.

 2. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia

  • Date of Birth: 29th of October 1938
  • Term of office: 16 January 2006 – 22 January 2018
  • Salary: $90,000 per annum
  • Net Worth: $23 million

Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson was the President of Liberia between 2006 and 2018. She made history as Africa’s first female head of state. She received $90,000 per annum as her basic salary and was listed as the 70th most powerful woman in the globe by Forbes in 2014.

1. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

  • Date of Birth: 29th of November 1955
  • Term of office: 10 September 2012 – 16 February 2017
  • Salary: $1,500,000
  • Estimated Net Worth: Unknown

president-of-somalia

Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud was the 8th President of Somalia who served the country in the prestigious position from September 16, 2012, to February 16, 2017. He was paid a whopping $125,000 per month ($1,500,000 per annum).

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