When President Biden decided not to seek re-election, he received praise worldwide, including from central Africa, where many are hoping for a similar move from their president, Paul Biya, who at 91 is the world’s oldest leader.
In Cameroon, where Biya has been in power for 42 years, there is a growing sentiment for a change in leadership. Lukong Usheno Kiven, a human rights advocate in Yaoundé, believes that Biya will do everything to stay in power.
Biya is just one of many aged leaders across the globe. Leaders like Xi Jinping (71) of China, Vladimir V. Putin (71) of Russia, Narendra Modi (73) of India, Benjamin Netanyahu (74) of Israel, and Mahmoud Abbas (88) of the Palestinian Authority are significantly older than the populations they govern.
Interestingly, Africa, known as the world’s youngest continent, is home to a significant number of elderly leaders. Eleven of the world’s 20 oldest leaders are from Africa, according to research by the Pew Research Center.
