Eight Current African Presidents Who Previously Served as Vice Presidents

Wed, 06 May 2026 03:50:00 +0200

Several African leaders have followed a common path to power by first serving as vice presidents or deputy presidents before ascending to the presidency. This article profiles eight current heads of state who made this transition through various means, including constitutional succession, democratic elections, and political transitions. Paul Kagame of Rwanda served as vice president and de facto leader from 1994 to 2000 before becoming president in 2000. Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan rose to the presidency in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli after serving as vice president. In Kenya, William Ruto transitioned from deputy president (2013-2022) to winning the 2022 presidential election. Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa became president in 2017 after a military-backed transition following his dismissal as first vice president. Ghana's John Dramani Mahama assumed the presidency in 2012 after the death of President John Atta Mills and was later re-elected in 2024 for a non-