Top 10 Highest Ranked Paid Presidents in Africa

By Virginia Nyambura

African presidents are ranked as the highest earning despite the countries they head being underdeveloped with bloated wage bills.

Presidential salaries can be compared by viewing them in the context of a country’s GDP and average salaries paid to its workers.

It would probably help regulate the salaries if the country’s economic performance was to be put in consideration together with the Head of States performance to avoid the exorbitant salaries pocketed despite poor performance.

A number of presidents in Africa have hypocritical small salaries but have control over their countries’ resources either personally or through family members.

Here is a list of the 10 highest paid African presidents for you to decide whether they deserve the millions they are pocketing depending on their country’s economy.

10. Hage Geingob, Namibia

Hage is the 3rd and current president of Namibia since 21st March 2015 when he assumed power after Hifikepunye Pohamba who was descended from power in 2015 because Namibia presidency is restricted to two terms.

The 76-year-old President earns $110,000 every year after he and other political tax bearers took a six percent salary hike in 2017.

9. Joseph Kabila, DR Congo

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila Kabange who is 47 years old, ascended to power after his father’s assassination, President Laurent-Desire Kabila in 2001. He later went into the ballot in 2006 where he was elected as president and later re-elected in 2011

President Kabila earns $110,000 annually.

8. Azali Assoumani, Comoros

President Azali, 59 years of age, has served since 2016; however, he had previously served the country from 1999 to 2006.

He pockets a pay package of $115,000 annually.

7. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Somalia

Somalia, despite appearing on the media for all the wrong reasons sends it head of state home with a lump sum package.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, at 56 years of age, is the 9th and current president of Somalia after winning the Somalia presidential election by a landslide in 2017.

President Mohamed earns $144,000 annually.

6. Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya

The Kenyan current president is the fourth after getting into the office in April 2013. He served as the Member of Parliament for Gatundu South from 2002 to 2013.

The 56-year-old President pockets $132,000 annually after his monthly basic salary was brought down from $14,000 to $ 11,000.

5. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea

President Teodoro Obiang has served Equatorial Guinea since 1979 and has been termed as one of the longest-serving presidents in the continent.

Teodoro at 76 years of age pockets $150,000 every year.

4. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria

The fifth president of Algeria ascended to power in 1999. He was previously a minister of Foreign Affairs from 1963 to 1976.

He is 81 years old and pockets $168,000 every year.

3. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is South Africa’s fifth President following the resignation of Jacob Zuma. The 65-year-old president was born in one of the largest ranked slum, Soweto.

Ramaphosa pockets $305 000 from $206,600 after a salary increase early 2018 despite his country’s bloated wage bill.

2. King Mohammed VI, Morocco

King Mohammed VI, 54 years old, took to the President’s office in 1999 upon his father’s death, King Hassan II.

He pockets a salary of $480,000 per year.

1. Paul Biya, Cameroon

Paul Biya, now 85 years of age, took to power in November 1982. He is, currently, one of the longest ruling Non-Royal head of state in the World.

He pockets a basic salary of $2,590 every year without including fixed premiums and sovereignty fees which translates to $15,541 annually with sovereignty fees rising to $591,871; he, therefore, pockets $610,002 every year making him the richest head of state in Africa.

It is most important to note that these are salaries, not inclusive of all the other perks.