KemetLeads

The Scorecard

African leaders, measured

Every scored head of state, ranked on constitutional conduct. Click a column to sort, a name for the full profile.

# Leader Conduct /5 Development Democracy Rule of law Rights
1 🇿🇦 Nelson MandelaSouth Africa · 1918–2013 5.0 P281994–1999P100+0.32 · 1994–1999P94+0.03 · 1994–1999P83+0.17 · 1994–1999
2 🇧🇼 Seretse KhamaBotswana · 1921–1980 5.0 P811966–1980P98+0.22 · 1966–1980P79+0.01 · 1966–1980P79+0.17 · 1972–1980
3 🇱🇷 Ellen Johnson SirleafLiberia · b. 1938 4.4 P322006–2018P26-0.02 · 2006–2018P4-0.07 · 2006–2018P83+0.08 · 2006–2018
4 🇱🇷 George WeahLiberia · b. 1966 4.4 P232018–2024P62-0.01 · 2018–2024P62+0.01 · 2018–2024P320.00 · 2018–2024
5 🇲🇺 Sir Seewoosagur RamgoolamMauritius · 1900–1985 4.4 P641968–1982P81+0.06 · 1968–1982P48-0.06 · 1968–1982P360.00 · 1972–1982
6 🇿🇦 Cyril RamaphosaSouth Africa · b. 1952 4.2* P102018–2024P720.00 · 2018–2025P43-0.01 · 2018–2025P360.00 · 2018–2025
7 🇸🇳 Bassirou Diomaye FayeSenegal · b. 1980 4.2* ————
8 🇿🇲 Hakainde HichilemaZambia · b. 1962 4.2* —P92+0.08 · 2021–2025P92+0.07 · 2021–2025P260.00 · 2021–2025
9 🇳🇦 Netumbo Nandi-NdaitwahNamibia · b. 1952 4.2* ————
10 🇹🇿 Julius NyerereTanzania · 1922–1999 3.8 P371961–1985P53+0.05 · 1961–1985P92+0.18 · 1961–1985P400.00 · 1972–1985
11 🇧🇯 Mathieu KérékouBenin · 1933–2015 3.8 P281996–2006P60+0.04 · 1996–2006P440.00 · 1996–2006P290.00 · 1996–2006
12 🇳🇦 Sam NujomaNamibia · 1929–2025 3.8 P251990–2005P53+0.14 · 1990–2005P65+0.02 · 1990–2005P39+0.08 · 1990–2005
13 🇳🇬 Nnamdi AzikiweNigeria · 1904 – 1996 3.3 P181963–1966P23-0.04 · 1963–1966P27-0.02 · 1963–1966—
14 🇳🇬 Bola TinubuNigeria · b. 1952 3.3* ————
15 🇰🇪 William RutoKenya · b. 1966 3.3* —P74+0.01 · 2022–2025P26-0.04 · 2022–2025P250.00 · 2022–2025
16 🇸🇱 Julius Maada BioSierra Leone · b. 12 May 1964 3.3* P752018–2024P25-0.08 · 2018–2025P100+0.14 · 2018–2025P32-0.08 · 2018–2025
17 🇿🇲 Kenneth KaundaZambia · 1924–2021 3.1 P91964–1991P51+0.06 · 1964–1991P44-0.15 · 1964–1991P91+0.42 · 1972–1991
18 🇩🇯 Hassan Gouled AptidonDjibouti · 1916–2006 3.1 P381977–1999P36+0.11 · 1977–1999P46-0.05 · 1977–1999P2-0.25 · 1977–1999
19 🇸🇹 Manuel Pinto da CostaSão Tomé and Príncipe · b. 1937 3.1 P632011–2016P430.00 · 2011–2016P60+0.01 · 2011–2016P320.00 · 2011–2016
20 🇬🇭 Jerry John RawlingsGhana · 1947–2020 3.1 P611981–2001P92+0.47 · 1981–2001P90+0.10 · 1981–2001P82+0.50 · 1982–2001
21 🇳🇬 Olusegun ObasanjoNigeria · b. 1937 3.1 P711999–2007P57+0.03 · 1999–2007P420.00 · 1999–2007P8-0.08 · 1999–2007
22 🇰🇪 Jomo KenyattaKenya · 1897–1978 2.5 P561963–1978P580.00 · 1963–1978P23-0.18 · 1963–1978P260.00 · 1972–1978
23 🇨🇮 Félix Houphouët-BoignyCôte d'Ivoire · 1905–1993 2.5 P621960–1993P62+0.19 · 1960–1993P86+0.13 · 1960–1993P51+0.08 · 1972–1993
24 🇹🇳 Habib BourguibaTunisia · 1903–2000 2.5 P951956–1986P79+0.13 · 1956–1986P92+0.15 · 1956–1986P400.00 · 1972–1986
25 🇹🇬 Sylvanus OlympioTogo · 1902–1963 2.5 P441960–1963P2-0.03 · 1960–1963P12-0.08 · 1960–1963—
26 🇲🇼 Hastings BandaMalawi · c. 1898–1997 2.5 P621964–1994P62+0.19 · 1964–1994P27-0.27 · 1964–1994P100+0.67 · 1972–1994
27 🇹🇿 Samia Suluhu HassanTanzania · b. 1960 2.5* —P600.00 · 2021–2025P19-0.04 · 2021–2025P21-0.08 · 2021–2025
28 🇪🇹 Abiy AhmedEthiopia · b. 1976 2.5* P792018–2024P64-0.01 · 2018–2025P510.00 · 2018–2025P360.00 · 2018–2025
29 🇨🇩 Félix TshisekediDR Congo · b. 13 June 1963 2.5* P552019–2024P38-0.04 · 2019–2025P68+0.02 · 2019–2025P340.00 · 2019–2025
30 🇸🇨 France-Albert RenéSeychelles · 1935–2019 2.5 P421977–2004P66+0.27 · 1977–2004P92+0.20 · 1977–2004P52+0.25 · 1977–2004
31 🇬🇭 Kwame NkrumahGhana · 1909–1972 1.9 P301957–1965P0-0.18 · 1957–1965P10-0.18 · 1957–1965—
32 🇿🇼 Robert MugabeZimbabwe · 1924–2019 1.9 P141980–2016P4-0.01 · 1980–2016P4-0.33 · 1980–2016P6-0.25 · 1980–2016
33 🇲🇷 Moktar Ould DaddahMauritania · 1924–2003 1.9 P671960–1977P33-0.03 · 1960–1977P37-0.15 · 1960–1977P310.00 · 1972–1977
34 🇧🇫 Thomas SankaraBurkina Faso · 1949–1987 1.7 P671983–1987P190.00 · 1983–1987P85+0.01 · 1983–1987P4-0.17 · 1983–1987
35 🇬🇳 Ahmed Sékou TouréGuinea · 1922–1984 1.7 P391958–1984P13-0.06 · 1958–1984P61-0.09 · 1958–1984P90+0.17 · 1972–1984
36 🇲🇿 Samora MachelMozambique · 1933–1986 1.7 P91975–1986P72+0.06 · 1975–1986P630.00 · 1975–1986P23-0.08 · 1975–1986
37 🇪🇬 Anwar SadatEgypt · 1918–1981 1.7 P871970–1981P430.00 · 1970–1981P23-0.09 · 1970–1981P81+0.17 · 1972–1980
38 🇷🇼 Paul KagameRwanda · b. 1957 1.7* P952000–2024P75+0.08 · 2000–2025P58+0.04 · 2000–2025P73+0.08 · 2000–2025
39 🇺🇬 Yoweri MuseveniUganda · b. 1944 1.7* P801986–2024P43+0.13 · 1986–2025P15-0.16 · 1986–2025P4-0.17 · 1986–2025
40 🇬🇦 Omar Bongo OndimbaGabon · 1935–2009 1.7 P521967–2009P51+0.22 · 1967–2009P650.00 · 1967–2009P40+0.08 · 1972–2009
41 🇩🇿 Ahmed Ben BellaAlgeria · 1916–2012 1.3 ————
42 🇲🇱 Modibo KeïtaMali · 1915–1977 1.3 P531960–1967P56+0.01 · 1960–1967P530.00 · 1960–1967—
43 🇳🇪 Hamani DioriNiger · 1916–1989 1.3 P31960–1973P71+0.05 · 1960–1973P690.00 · 1960–1973—
44 🇪🇬 Gamal Abdel NasserEgypt · 1918–1970 0.8 P781954–1970P75+0.13 · 1954–1970P51-0.08 · 1954–1970—
45 🇦🇴 Agostinho NetoAngola · 1922–1979 0.8 P191975–1979P300.00 · 1975–1979P25-0.01 · 1975–1979P6-0.17 · 1975–1979
46 🇪🇷 Isaias AfwerkiEritrea · b. 1946 0.8* P661993–2024P21-0.03 · 1993–2025P4-0.29 · 1993–2025P10-0.25 · 1993–2025
47 🇧🇫 Ibrahim TraoréBurkina Faso · b. 1988 0.8* —P2-0.14 · 2022–2025P4-0.09 · 2022–2025P13-0.08 · 2022–2025
48 🇱🇾 Muammar GaddafiLibya · 1942–2011 0.6 P651969–2010P11-0.02 · 1969–2010P13-0.35 · 1969–2010P23-0.08 · 1972–2010
49 🇰🇲 Ali SoilihComoros · 1937–1978 0.6 ————
50 🇬🇶 Teodoro Obiang Nguema MbasogoEquatorial Guinea · b. 1942 0.0* P781979–2024P43+0.13 · 1979–2025P65+0.07 · 1979–2025P20-0.08 · 1979–2025
51 🇨🇩 Mobutu Sese SekoDR Congo · 1930–1997 0.0 P231965–1996P21-0.03 · 1965–1996P25-0.26 · 1965–1996P280.00 · 1972–1996
52 🇺🇬 Idi AminUganda · c. 1925–2003 0.0 P41971–1978P26-0.04 · 1971–1978P27-0.04 · 1971–1978P260.00 · 1972–1978
53 🇨🇩 Patrice LumumbaDR Congo · 1925–1961 — ————

* provisional — leader still in office. Columns 4–7: P = the leader's percentile among the other African countries for change over the same years — country-level evidence, not proof. How we score →

The context

How power changes hands in Africa

Every scored leader sits inside this record: how tenures have ended since independence, and how often the army has tried to end them.