The past two weeks have placed the African continent on the world map for the wrong reasons. Ex- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh held on to power forcing the newly elected Adama Barrow to be sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal.

He has been in power for more than 22 years, but other current African leaders have ruled longer. Below is a list of Seven other African leaders who have led for more than 30 years

Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) — 36 years


Age: 92
In power since: April 1980, when his country gained independence after he coordinated a guerrilla war against white colonial rulers. He first was prime minister, then took the presidency in 1987 — elected by the national assembly — when a new constitution created the office to replace the prime minister’s office.
Current election rules: Five-year terms, no term limits. He has claimed victory in popular votes — sometimes highly controversially — in 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2013. He is the last living African leader who’s been in power continuously since his country’s independence.

King Mswati III (Swaziland) — 30 years

Age: 48
In power since: April 1986, upon turning 18, nearly four years after the death of his father, the previous king.
No popular election for the king: Swaziland is Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy, which is hereditary. The country has an elected Parliament, and Mswati chooses a prime minster from among the elected members.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea) — 37 years

Age: 74
In power since: August 3, 1979, when he toppled his uncle in a military coup.

Current election rules: The president is elected in a majority popular vote for seven-year terms. This leader last claimed victory in an April 2016 election, reportedly with 93.7% of the vote. Opposition members and human rights groups have questioned the elections’ fairness.

Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) — 31 years


Age: 72
In power since: January 1986, when Museveni, a guerrilla leader and former defense minister, ousted a military regime.
Current election rules: Majority popular vote for five-year terms, with no term limits. Museveni held the presidency for 10 years before he was chosen in the country’s first direct presidential election in 1996. After his re-election in 2001, Parliament removed presidential term limits in 2005. He was elected for a fifth term in February 2016.

Paul Biya (Cameroon) — 34 years

Age: 83
In power since: November 1982, when the then-prime minister succeeded a president who resigned.
Current election rules: Majority popular vote for seven-year terms. Last elected in October 2012. No term limits.