Have you ever wondered how much African presidents, prime ministers, kings, etc. make annually? Well, it may surprise you to know that some African leaders are "officially" paid more than the president of the United States of America.
The president of the United States, the richest nation on earth, is paid $400,000 a year in addition to a $50,000 expense allowance. The United States also sets aside an additional $100,000 for the president's travel costs, entertainment, etc.
Meanwhile, King Mswati III of Swaziland, with a personal net worth of about 300 million US dollars, is paid $50 million annually out of government coffers. He got a $13.2 million private jet as a birthday gift in 2018 and blew over $24.4 million on his 15 wives. To put things into perspective, Swaziland has a poverty rate of about 63% with unemployment rate hovering around 42%.
African heads of state are among the richest in the world. Several African leaders are "officially" paid more than the president of the United States. I put "officially" in quotes because, in reality, most African leaders make more than 10 times their official salaries every single year.
The sum total of the official salaries of all African leaders (with the exception of 3) was around 61 million US dollars in 2022. In other words, in the absence of all external factors, 61 million dollars is what they were supposed to make in 2022. Meanwhile, King Mswati III alone got paid more than 50 million US dollars.
Although all African leaders make more than their official salaries, not all of them earn as much as King Mswati III.
So how much are other African leaders "officially" paid? Well, the annual salary of Andry Rajoelina, the president of Madagascar, is officially hidden. Also, the salaries of Mohamed Bazoum (the president of Niger), Faure Gnassingbe (the president of Togo) and several others are classified CIA information.
Paul Biya, the president of Cameroon is paid $620,976 excluding all allowances. In other words, without even counting the extra millions of dollars Paul Biya makes on the side, he is paid over $200,000 more than the president of the United States. Paul Biya has an estimated net worth of $250 million. And as most of you know, Paul Biya has been in power since 1982. In fact, he is the second longest reigning dictator in Africa today.
To continue, Azali Assoumani, the president of the Comoros Islands (population of less than 1 million people), officially gets paid $117,060 annually excluding all allowances.
The President of Congo-Brazzaville (with a population of about 5.6 million people), Dennis Sassou Nguesso, is officially paid $108,400 excluding all allowances. To put things in perspective, Congo-Brazzaville's GDP per capita income of $457 is one of the lowest in Africa today.
The president of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, is officially paid $74,300 excluding all allowances. However, the Republic of Malawi's GDP per capita income is just $399.
The annual salary of the out-going president of the Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is roughly $73,000 excluding all allowances. Meanwhile, some estimates put President Buhari's net worth at $110 million.
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, is officially paid $223,500 annually excluding all allowances. President Ramaphosa is one of the richest people in South Africa with an estimated net worth of more than $450 million. NB: He was already worth millions before he became president.
The annual salary of the president of Kenya is $192,200 excluding all allowances. Amazingly, the former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, is reportedly worth a fortune of $650 million.
Also, Yoweri Museveni the president Uganda, is officially paid $183,216 annually excluding all allowances. Meanwhile, some credible sources estimate he has amassed a whopping $13 billion in personal fortune through the years. Yoweri Museveni has been in power since January 29, 1986.
King Mohammed VI, the King and head of state of Morocco, is paid an estimated annual salary of $488,604 excluding all allowances. King Mohammed VI ascended the throne on July 23, 1999 after the death of his father, King Hassan II. According to Forbes, the daily operating budget of King Mohammed's palace alone is about $960,000.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the president of Morocco's neighbor Algeria, is paid an annual salary of $168,000 excluding all allowances.
Africa's longest-ruling dictator, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the president and head of state of Equatorial Guinea, is officially paid $152,680. Meanwhile, Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo has a net worth of over $600 million according to Forbes. Also, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Teodoro Mbasogo and vice president of Equatorial Guinea, has an estimated net worth of over $220 million. Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo has been in power since August 3, 1979 after overthrowing his uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, in a coup.
The annual salaries of the presidents of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Ghana are $146,590, $76,000 and $100,000 respectfully excluding all allowances.
Also, excluding all allowances, George Oppong Weah of Liberia and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are officially paid $90,000 and $85,000 annually respectively.
To be continued.