Africa’s Big Men

These leaders have been in power for decades.

Yoweri Museveni — Uganda, Since 1986 - Referred to as Africa’s “Big Men” these leaders have been in power for decades and most don’t appear to be willing to give up their power anytime soon. BET.com looks at Africa’s remaining “Big Men” and the legacies they have created during their many years at the helm.  — Naeesa Aziz Museveni is the current president of Uganda and was involved in deposing two of Uganda’s previous leaders: Idi Amin Dada in 1979 and Milton Obote in 1985. Although he has held onto power for more than two decades, Museveni has been credited with bringing stability and economic growth to the country.(Photo: REUTERS/Edward Echwalu)

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Yoweri Museveni — Uganda, Since 1986 - Referred to as Africa’s “Big Men” these leaders have been in power for decades and most don’t appear to be willing to give up their power anytime soon. BET.com looks at Africa’s remaining “Big Men” and the legacies they have created during their many years at the helm.  — Naeesa Aziz Museveni is the current president of Uganda and was involved in deposing two of Uganda’s previous leaders: Idi Amin Dada in 1979 and Milton Obote in 1985. Although he has held onto power for more than two decades, Museveni has been credited with bringing stability and economic growth to the country.(Photo: REUTERS/Edward Echwalu)

Paul Biya — Cameroon, Since 1982 - On November 3, 2011, the 78-year-old Biya was sworn in to his third term in office.(Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

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Paul Biya — Cameroon, Since 1982 - On November 3, 2011, the 78-year-old Biya was sworn in to his third term in office.(Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

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Robert Mugabe —Zimbabwe, Since 1980 - Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is one of Africa’s most outspoken and notorious “Big Men” still in power today. The 88-year-old is not at all shy about expressing his determination to stay in power. Mugabe has come under fire over the years for his human-rights record and Zimbabwe’s struggling economy, rife corruption and ostracism from the West, who decry Mugabe’s policies.(Photo: REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo)

José  Eduardo dos Santos — Angola, Since 1979 - Angola’s long-term leader will allegedly seek another term in office during the country’s September 2012 elections. The oil-rich nation is sub-Saharan Africa's second oil producer behind Nigeria.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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José  Eduardo dos Santos — Angola, Since 1979 - Angola’s long-term leader will allegedly seek another term in office during the country’s September 2012 elections. The oil-rich nation is sub-Saharan Africa's second oil producer behind Nigeria.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — Equitorial Guinea, Since 1979 - Obiang, leader of the small, Spanish-speaking nation of Equitorial Guinea, has been in power since he overthrew the rule of his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup. Obiang’s son, Teodorin, has been accused by the U.S. of looting more than $100 million from the country to fund a lavish lifestyle in the U.S. and Europe, and his home in Paris was also raided as part of an ongoing investigation. (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

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Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — Equitorial Guinea, Since 1979 - Obiang, leader of the small, Spanish-speaking nation of Equitorial Guinea, has been in power since he overthrew the rule of his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup. Obiang’s son, Teodorin, has been accused by the U.S. of looting more than $100 million from the country to fund a lavish lifestyle in the U.S. and Europe, and his home in Paris was also raided as part of an ongoing investigation. (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

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King Mswati III — Swaziland, Since 1986 - King Mswati is a constant staple of international news, as his lavish life with multiple wives (eleven as of December) and insistence on maintaining a monarchy amid the world's highest HIV rates and lowest life expectancy draws criticism.(Photo: REUTERS/Chip East)

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King Mswati III — Swaziland, Since 1986 - King Mswati is a constant staple of international news, as his lavish life with multiple wives (eleven as of December) and insistence on maintaining a monarchy amid the world's highest HIV rates and lowest life expectancy draws criticism.(Photo: REUTERS/Chip East)

Sudan Opens Gold Refinery  - Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir commemorated the opening of the country's first gold refinery last week. The plant is reported to be Africa's largest and will produce more than 328 tons of gold each year. (Photo: Liu Jin-Pool/Getty Images)

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Omar al-Bashir — Sudan, Since 1993 - Al-Bashir came to power via a bloodless military coup. In 2008, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for the Darfur conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and affected 5 million overall. (Photo: Liu Jin-Pool/Getty Images)

Ethiopian Leader Meles Zenawi Dies - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died Monday night in Brussels at age 57. Zenawi was in the country being treated for an undisclosed illness at the time of his death.  (Photo: REUTERS/Kahled Elfiqi/Pool)

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Meles Zenawi — Ethiopia, Since 1995 - Zenawi was elected prime minister in 1995 after helping to lead a rebel movement that overthrew a brutal military dictatorship. Although his Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front claimed a sweeping victory in 2011’s parliamentary elections, Amnesty International reports the vote took place under the context of intimidation, harassment and restrictions on freedom of association and assembly.(Photo: REUTERS/Kahled Elfiqi)

Photo By Photo: REUTERS/Kahled Elfiqi/Pool

Canada Has Eritrean Diplomat Expelled - Canadian authorities have banished the only accredited Eritrean diplomat from the country following claims of alleged extortion. The contention centered on Eritrea’s "taxing" of Canadian-Eritreans for military defense funding.(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

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Isaias Afewerki — Eritrea, Since 1993 - Afewerki became president two years after leading the Eritrean People's Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, ending the country’s 30-year-old armed liberation struggle.Afewerki’s leadership has been called oppressive and Eritreans have been leaving the countries in droves over the years, seeking asylum in many European countries.(Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

Paul Kagame  — Rwanda, Since 1994 - Although Kagame’s party’s military victory over the previous government led to the end of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, his policies have since been called repressive, with limited freedom of speech and press freedom.  (Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)

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Paul Kagame  — Rwanda, Since 1994 - Although Kagame’s party’s military victory over the previous government led to the end of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, his policies have since been called repressive, with limited freedom of speech and press freedom.  (Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)