Unfortunately, it is generally accepted in the world that Africa is filled with third world states that have not even reached the industrial stage of development. But few people want to think about the fact that there are countries with a modern democratic system on the mainland. If you are interested in whether there are presidents in Africa, what powers they have, then we are in a hurry to tell you everything on this topic!
Who is the president?
First, a little theory. President (lat. Praesidens - “in front”, “chairman”) - this is the name of the leader of the state chosen for a certain term with a republican or mixed form of government.
In the presidential republics, his powers are wider. He is chosen by the citizens of the country through indirect or direct elections. In parliamentary form, this official appoints the legislature. Formally, the president also has broad powers, but the prime minister is the "gray cardinal" here.
Now let's get closer to the main topic.
African presidents
We turn to the African states, whose leaders are precisely the presidents. And at the same time we will find out who they are:
- Algeria - A. A. Bouteflika.
- Angola - to J. Lawrence.
- Benin - P. Talon.
- Botswana - Ya. Khama.
- Burkina Faso - R.M.K. Cabore.
- Burundi - P. Nkurunziza.
- Gabon - A. B. Ondimba.
- The Gambia - A. Barrow.
- Ghana - N. Akufo Addo.
- Guinea-Bissau - J.M. Waz.
- Guinea - A. Conde.
- Djibouti - I.O. Gelle.
- Egypt - A.-F. Al-Sisi.
- Zambia - E. Lungu.
- Z. Sahara - B. Gali.
- Zimbabwe - E. Mnangagwa.
- Cape Verde - J.K. Fonseca.
- Cameroon - P. Biya.
- Kenya - W. Kenyata.
- Comoros - A. Assumani.
- Congo - D.S. Nguesso.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo - J. Kabila.
- Côte d'Ivoire - A. Ouattara.
- Liberia - E. Johnson-Sirleaf.
- Mauritius - A. Gourib-Fakim.
- Mauritania - M.W. Abdel-Aziz.
- Madagascar - E. Radzaunarimampianina.
- Malawi - P. Mutarika.
- Mali - I. B. Keita.
- Mozambique - F. Newsy.
- Namibia - H. Geingob.
- Niger - M. Issoufu.
- Nigeria - M. Bukhari.
- Rwanda - P. Kagame.
- Principe and Sao Tome - E. Carvalho.
- Seychelles - D. Fore.
- Senegal - M. Sall.
- Somalia - M.A. Mohamed.
- Somaliland - A. Silagno.
- Sudan - O. al-Bashir.
- Sierra Leone - E. B. Coroma.
- Tanzania - D. Magufuli.
- Togo - F. Gnassingbe.
- Tunisia - B.K. Es-Sebsi.
- Uganda - J. Museveni.
- CAR - F.-A. Touadera.
- Chad - I. Deby.
- Equatorial Guinea - T.O.N. Mbasogo.
- Eritrea - I. Afeverki.
- Ethiopia - M. Teshome.
- South Africa - D. Zuma.
- Yu. Sudan - S. Kiir.
So we got acquainted with the list of presidents of Africa. If you look at the whole continent, then there are much more presidential countries than others. Other forms of government are presented in:
- Lesotho (king);
- Libya (Chairman of the Presidential Council, Prime Minister in Tripoli, head of the House of Representatives in Tobruk);
- Morocco (king) ;
- Swaziland (king).
Let us now get acquainted with the features of the presidential institute in several African countries.
Zambia
The President of Africa is also the head of the executive branch of the republic called Zambia. He is both the leader of the government and the entire state. He also holds the post of commander in chief of the army.
Presidential elections for a five-year term are held by universal secret ballot by Zambians. The requirements for the candidate for this post are as follows:
- Achievement 35 years.
- The presence of Zambian citizenship.
- Support by a specific political party.
- Compliance with a number of requirements for appointment as a member of the National Assembly.
Chad
The President of Chad is the head of state. He is elected for a 5-year term, but cannot occupy this position twice in a row. The tradition of the state is the solemn oath of the president before taking office. In this country, he is the guarantor of the sovereignty, integrity and independence of Chad, the territorial unity of the country's lands, and respect for a number of international treaties.
The responsibilities of the head of this republic are many:
- Convening a referendum.
- Dissolution of the National Assembly.
- The appointment of the Prime Minister of the country.
- Creation of appeals to the legislative structure.
- The right to pardon criminals.
- Submission of a number of appeals to the Constitutional Council.
- The publication of decrees and decrees.
- Appointment of officials of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Council.
- Fulfillment of prescribed special permissions.
South Africa
The President of South Africa (South Africa) is the highest public office in this republic. According to the constitution, he is simultaneously the head of the country, the executive branch and the supreme commander of the army. He is elected at the first meeting of the members of the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) after the new formation. His term of office is 5 years. The position is not permissible to hold more than two times in a row.
The powers of the President are as follows:
- The adoption of bills.
- Submission of some draft laws for reconsideration to the National Assembly because of their inconsistency with the constitution.
- Sending the bill to the Constitutional Court to establish its compliance with the main law of the country.
- Convening extraordinary parliamentary meetings.
- Job Policy.
- Approval of a national referendum.
- Appointment of plenipotentiaries, ambassadors.
- The right of pardon.
South African President Mandela
One of the most famous and charismatic leaders of African countries rightfully consider Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa. The politician lived a long life - 95 years (1918-2013).
If you are interested in who the first president of Africa is, then experts will name it Mandela. This man became the first black president of South Africa. But he became famous not only for this. Nelson Mandela is one of the most prominent human rights activists during apartheid (politics of racial segregation) in his native country. For his right views he had to spend 27 years in prison! N. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1993, and since 2004 he was the Delphic Ambassador for young people.
What are the names of the presidents of Africa, you now know. The Democratic Institute is established in most countries of this continent. How much, of course, it is similar to European, Russian, American, this is another question.