Like Father Like Son? Six Presidents In Africa Whose Fathers Were Also Presidents

Political dynasties are not unique to Africa; history is replete with multiple instances from around the world where sons have gone on to be presidents, on more than one occasion in Africa, political power in a republic has been transferred directly from father to son.

Even America, which prides itself as a model for democracy for the rest of the world, has two examples of father-son Presidents: John Adams and his son John Q. Adams during the nation’s early years, and more recently, George Walker Bush and his father George H.W. Bush.

Here, we take a look at six instances in Africa where a son went on to ascend to political power after his father in a system of government that was not a monarchy.

1. President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba

Omar Bongo Ondimba was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. That same year, his son Ali Bongo Odimba contested for the presidential seat under the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), winning the election with a total of 42 percent of all the votes.

Before he was elected president, Ali Bongo had held several key political positions during his father’s regime, including the Gabonese Minister for Defence.

Ali Bongo’s time in office has not been too different from his father’s before him. Several civil society organisations have accused his government of highhandedness, widespread corruption and human rights abuses.

2. President of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé

Faure Gnassingbé assumed office as President of Togo with the support of the country’s army in 2005 immediately after the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma.

African Presidents Whose Fathers Were Also Presidents

An international outcry from civil liberties organisations denouncing his legitimacy to the office followed the announcement. Faure subsequently resigned from office, contested, and won a controversial presidential election two months later and was sworn in as the elected president.

In April 2015, Faure was elected to a third consecutive 5-year term in office, defeating his main challenger with 59 percent of the vote according to official poll figures.

Faure had served earlier as the Togolese minister of equipment, mines, and posts under the government of his late father. Together, father and son Gnassinbgé have led Togo for 49 years out of its 56 years post-independence history.

3. President of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila

Kabila was barely 30 years old when he took office as President of the DRC a mere ten days after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 2001.

Early on, many political observers dismissed the young Kabila as naive and inexperienced. However, he subsequently went on to prove himself as a capable negotiator and administrator.

Despite several oppositions to his regime, attempted coups, and a near-civil war, Kabila remained leader of the DRC through an interim administration set up under him until he was elected President in 2006 and re-elected for a second term in 2011.

The older and younger Kabila have governed the Congo for nearly 20 years now.

4. President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta

Sworn into office in 2013, Uhuru Kenyatta, is regarded as Kenya’s youngest president. He is the fourth president of Kenya and the son of the first president, the legendary Jomo Kenyatta.

The younger Kenyatta was first elected president in 2013 on the platform of The National Alliance Party (TNA). The election results were initially disputed, but a Supreme Court decision later held that Uhuru’s election was valid.

There is a 34-year gap between Jomo Kenyatta’s time in office and that of his son Uhuru. Many consider it an example of a healthy father-son “political dynasty” in Africa.

The younger Kenyatta has been in politics for the most of his adult life, having variously served as finance minister and deputy Prime Minister.

5. President of Botswana, Ian Khama

Botswana is widely regarded as an African success story, enjoying representative democracy, a stable socio-political climate, respect for the rule of law, and a thriving economy.

Seretse Khama became the first President of Botswana after its independence from British rule. Many consider him as the founder of the country because he largely established the groundwork for the economic and social progress the country enjoys today.

His son Ian Khama is the fourth and current President of Botswana. The younger Khama has largely continued in the path of responsible civil rule established by his late father, and Botswana today is one of the most successful countries in Africa, with a per capita GDP of $18,021 and an impressive human development index of 0.698. Ian Khama was elected President 27 years after his father left office.

6. Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam

Navin Ramgoolam is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of Mauritius. He was the foremost independence activist and played a crucial role in shaping the government of modern Mauritius, introducing social services like universal education, free health care, and old-age pensions.

In 1995, fifteen years after his father left office, Navin Ramgoolam became Prime Minister of Mauritius and served a 5-year term between 1995 and 2000.

He was out of government between 2000 and 2005, when he served as the leader of the opposition. He then became Prime Minister again in 2005 and remained in that position until he lost the election in 2014.