Have you ever wondered how much presidents make? Have you ever wondered the official salary of your current president? 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 most powerful 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.
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 as of early 2022. However, it may surprise you to know that, some African leaders individually make more than $50 million every single year.
So how much are 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, has been in power as president since 1982. He is the second longest-ruling president in Africa today. His official annual salary is $620,976 excluding all allowances. Azali Assoumani, the president of the Comoros Islands (population of less than 1 million people), officially gets $117,060 annually excluding all allowances.
The President of Congo-Brazzaville (population of about 5.6 million people), Dennis Sassou Nguesso, is officially paid $108,400 excluding all allowances. Meanwhile, 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. Meanwhile, the Republic of Malawi's GDP per capita income is just $399. The annual salary of the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is roughly $73,000 excluding all allowances.
King Mswati III of Swaziland, with a personal net worth of about 200 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. Meanwhile, Swaziland has a poverty rate of about 63% with unemployment rate hovering around 42%. 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.
The annual salary of the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, is $192,200 excluding all allowances. Meanwhile, Uhuru Kenyatta is reportedly worth a fortune of $650 million. Yoweri Museveni, the president of Kenya's neighbor Uganda, is paid an annual salary of $183,216 excluding all allowances. Yoweri Museveni has been president of Uganda since January 29, 1986. Some sources estimate he has amassed a whopping $13 billion in personal fortune through the years.
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 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 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 salary of the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is $146,590 excluding all allowances. The president of Burkina Faso is officially paid $100,000 excluding all allowances. The annual salary of the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, is roughly $76,000 excluding all allowances. Excluding all allowances, George Oppong Weah of Liberia and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are officially paid $90,000 and $85,000 annually respectively.