Being a president is a very important job, and should naturally command a salary that is proportionate to its weight. The highest-paid presidents in Africa, therefore, receive very good remunerations; so as to enable them to concentrate on the job of nation-building with which they are saddled.
Interestingly, many people in Africa want to know how much their presidents earn. This is because these figures have for a long time been shrouded in secrecy; protected as state secrets.
However, because there can be no development without accountability; there is a strong need to make these figures available, so as to reduce the incidences of corruption, and to reduce the tensions that can be triggered when a leader is thought to have criminally enriched himself.
Who are the highest-paid presidents in Africa? Politics is a very lucrative business all over the world, but perhaps there is no place in the world where this is more evident than in Africa. The Political elites of Africa are among the highest-paid public servants in the world. Some African states spend so much on maintaining the lavish lifestyles of their top government officials that there is very little left for the people to survive on.
Top 10 Highest Paid Presidents in Africa
| Name | Country | Income Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Paul Biya | Cameroon | $620,000 |
| 2. King Mohammed VI. | Morocco | $488,000 |
| 3. Cyril Ramaphosa | South Africa | $223,500 |
| 4. Uhuru Kenyatta | Kenya | $192,000 |
| 5. Yoweri Museveni | Uganda | $183,000 |
| 6. Abdelmadjid Tebboune | Algeria | $168,000 |
| 7. Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo | Equatorial Guinea | $152,000 |
| 8. Emmerson Mnangagwa | Zimbabwe | $146,00 |
| 9. Azali Assoumani | Comoros | $115,000 |
| 10. Hage Geingob | Namibia | $110,000 |
| 11. Denis Sassou Nguesso | Republic of the Congo | $108,000 |
Details
It is a known fact that there are rich personalities and figures here in Africa and that the leaders of the different countries on the continent are not left behind. There are quite a good number of presidents earning and receiving a huge amount of money every year. Note that this list doesn’t portray how rich the African presidents are, rather, it only contains the top ten highest-paid presidents in Africa and their respective yearly incomes.
Highest-Paid Presidents in Africa And Their Estimated Income Per Year
1. Paul Biya – About $610,000 per year
The president of Cameron Paul Biya is the first on our list of highest-paid presidents in Africa.
Paul Biya has been president of Cameroon since 1982. He is one of the most powerful men in Africa; and at 88, he is also the oldest head of state on the continent. Paul Biya earns $620,976 in salaries every year. That is by far the highest amount earned by any leader in Africa, and even more than the President of America Joe Biden makes per year.
President Paul Biya has been ruling Cameroon since 6th November 1982, making him one of the current long-serving Non-royal heads of state in the continent and the world at large. Paul Biya earns an estimate of $620,976 in a year, this does not include fixed premiums, fees of sovereignty”, and the weekly notes. This put him in the first spot on the list.
2. King Mohammed VI – About $480,000 per year
King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco is the second highest-earning leader in Africa, and no doubt one of the most powerful.
He ascended to the throne on 23 July 1999 upon the death of his father, King Hassan II. Morocco is a hereditary monarchy, and so he took the throne after his father died. He is also going to sit on that throne until death, which will make him the longest-serving leader in Africa.
King Mohammed VI’s palace has a daily operating budget of $960,000. Every year the state pays 2.576 billion Dirhams to the palace; this covers staff salaries, clothes, cars, as well as maintenance of equipment.
3. Cyril Ramaphosa (About $223,500 yearly)
Cyril Ramaphosa is the President of South Africa. He is also a businessman and for a time he was a labour leader. Cyril Ramaphosa is worth an estimated $500 million, and so his wealth does not depend on his position as president. He is one of the richest persons in South Africa, and one of the most powerful on the continent.
He is an astute politician and businessman; Cyril Ramaphosa is a wealth builder.
4. Uhuru Kenyatta (President of Kenya)
Income Per Year: About $192,000 yearly
President Uhuru Kenyatta is the President of Kenya. Interestingly, his father Jomo Kenyatta was the first president of the country. With an annual salary of $192,200, Uhuru Kenyatta is one of the highest-paid presidents in Africa; and with an estimated $2.5 billion, his family is the richest in the country.
Uhuru Kenyatta has a personal net worth of about $500 million; making him one of the richest in the country. Even though there is still time for Uhuru Kenyatta to prove his political mettle by initiating some long-lasting reforms, he has already proved himself as an astute investor and businessman.
5. Yoweri Museveni (Uganda)
Annual Salary: $183,216
Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the leader of Uganda; a position he has held since 1986. He earns an annual salary of $183,216, earning him a place among Africa’s highest-earning presidents. With his huge salaries over the years, and additional payments due to him as leader of Uganda for about 35 years, he has amassed a fortune estimated at about $13 billion, making him one of the richest persons on the continent.
Yoweri Museveni was a military officer who led rebellions against Obote and Idi Amin; he helped restore sanity in the country after it was almost run aground by Idi Amin. Although he is no longer courted by Western powers Yoweri Museveni has managed to stabilize the country and to rebuild the economy.
He has opened up Uganda for business and attracted investors from all over the world. President Yoweri Museveni is one of the longest-serving, non-royal leaders of any country.
6. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Algeria)
Annual Salary: $168,000
Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been president of Algeria since 2019. He presently earns $168,000 per year as the president of the country; and has also held other sensitive positions in the country such as Minister of Defense, Prime Minister, and Minister of Housing. Abdelmadjid Tebboune is the most powerful man in Algeria, and one of the most powerful persons on the continent.
He has instituted wide-reaching reforms all over the country, aimed at turning Algeria into one of the biggest economies in the world. Abdelmadjid Tebboune has unified the country and set it up on the right path.
His salary of $168,000 per year is quite modest for a country like Algeria, which is considered quite wealthy by African standards.
7. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (President of Equatorial Guinea)
Income Per Year: About $152,680 yearly
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979. He earns $152,680 per year as president of the country; making him one of the highest-paid presidents in Africa. Equatorial Guinea has a good economy; the major export is petroleum, but the country also has many other exports in varying quantities.
The country has a GDP per capita of $7,143; which is quite good by African standards, and there are other presidents earning far more than Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Furthermore, after more than 30 years in office, he could have increased his salary if he wanted to.
Equatorial Guinea enjoys a rather high quality of life; this is considered one of the richest African countries.
8. Emmerson Mnangagwa
Country: Zimbabwe
Annual Salary: $146,590
Emmerson Mnangagwa has been president of Zimbabwe since 24 November 2017. He earns $146,590 per year in his position as president; making him one of the top-earning African leaders. He presides over a small country with a population of about 14 million people and a GDP per capita of $1,128. The country has a diversified economy that has plenty of potential for growth.
9. Azali Assoumani (President of Comoros)
Income Per Year: About $115,000 yearly
Azali Assoumani, 59 years old is the president of one of Africa’s poorest and unpopular countries, Comoros since 2016. Prior to then, he has served the country from 1999 to 2006. The president made it to the list despite the fact that the people of the country are not finding it so easy. Azali Assoumani earns about $115,000 every year putting him on the eight spots on the list.
10. Hage Geingob, (President of Namibia)
Income Per Year: $108,400
Hage Gottfried Geingob is a Namibian politician, serving as the third president of Namibia since 21 March 2015. Geingob was the first Prime Minister of Namibia from 1990 to 2002, and served as prime minister again from 2012 to 2015. Between 2008 and 2012 Geingob served as Minister of Trade and Industry
The Republic of Namibia has a GDP per capita of $1,972, however, there is plenty of potential for growth.
11. Denis Sassou Nguesso (President of Republic of the Congo Congo)
Income Per Year: About $110,000 yearly
Second to the last on the list is President Denis Sassou Nguesso, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been president since 2001 after the death of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. He was elected as President in 2006 and re-elected in 2011 for a second term. Though number tenth on the list, He is one of our top richest presidents in African. Denis Sassou Nguesso is known to earn about $110 000 on a yearly basis putting him on the ninth spot on the list of highest-paid presidents in Africa.
Looking at the list above you will wonder why these leaders are paid this much yet little or no result or seemingly results. Well, you have seen the list of the Top Ten Highest Paid Presidents in Africa so you can decide whether these heads of state deserve the millions they pocket depending on their country’s economy.
12. Alassane Ouattara
Country: Ivory Coast
Annual Salary: $100,000
Alassane Ouattara has been president of Ivory Coast since 2010. He earns $100,000 per year as president, although it is not known how long he has been receiving that amount. He is an economist by training and has worked with the International Monetary Fund, and the Central Bank of West African States, before assuming office as president of Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast has a GDP per capita of $2,325, and the economy is expanding. There is potential for growth at an amazing pace, especially now that the country is at peace.
Finally
The highest-paid presidents in Africa do not necessarily govern the richest countries on the continent. However, because the continent is experiencing notable economic growth, it is possible to say that being well paid has allowed the leaders to focus on the job of building their countries, rather than be distracted by corrupting influences.
The yearly salary of each of those presidents doesn’t make them one of the richest presidents on the Continent.
