Africa has 54 countries, out of which 51 are led by presidents who serve as heads of state.

These presidents operate within different systems of governance, including full presidential systems, semi-presidential systems, and parliamentary systems.

African presidents are often known for serving multiple terms, with some even clinging to power beyond their mandates.

However, six Presidents served for one term and peacefully handed power to their successors.

Joyce Banda

Joyce Banda served as Malawi’s first female president and Africa’s second from 2012 to 2014.

She was the first woman head of state in southern Africa.

Before that, she was the vice president of President Bingu wa Mutharika, making history as the first woman to hold that position.

Banda was elected to the National Assembly in 2004.

She went ahead to serve as minister of gender, child welfare, and community services from 2004 to 2006.

Banda also served as the minister of foreign affairs until 2009.

Goodluck Jonathan

He was the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2010 and 2015.

Prior to his term as the President, Goodluck Jonathan served as the Vice President of Nigeria. 

He ascended to power on May 5, 2010, when President Yar’Adua died.

Jonathan ran for president in 2011 and won the general election.

He served a full term until 2015, when he lost re-election to Muhammadu Buhari and conceded.

Also Read: List of African Presidents Who Extended Term Limits

South Africa Shortest Serving President

Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe was the President of the Republic of South Africa from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009.

Motlanthe became the temporary president of South Africa in September 2008 after Thabo Mbeki resigned under pressure.

He contested in the 2009 election but lost to Jacob Zuma.

Zuma appointed him as his deputy president.

Motlanthe unsuccessfully challenged Zuma for the office of president of the ANC in 2012.

He retired from the deputy presidency of South Africa in May 2014.

Rupiah Banda

Rupiah Banda was the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.

President Levy Mwanawasa appointed him as Vice President in October 2006.

He took over presidential responsibilities after President Mwanawasa’s suffered a stroke in June 2008.

A month later, he became the Acting President after the death of Mwanawasa.

Banda died in March 2022 at the age of 85.

Also Read: List of African Women Who Have Served as Presidents

Mohamed Moncef Marzouki

Mohamed Moncef Marzouki was the first democratically elected president of Tunisia after the January 14th Revolution in 2011.

He was elected to the presidency by the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly after Ben Ali fled the country.

He remained in the presidency until the end of 2014 when he lost the elections.

Catherine Samba-Panza

Catherine Samba-Panza served as the interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016.

She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in the country.

Panza succeeded Seleka leader Michel Djotodia, who stepped down as interim president after failing to end waves of killing in the country.

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