They are regarded as the most powerful people in their respective jurisdictions. They are sometimes liked by many and despised by a few or a lot.
They make decisions that do not always sit well with individuals, but they were chosen to make difficult life-changing decisions for the greater welfare of society, not popular ones.
Here are the most well-protected presidents on the African continent right now; don't be surprised if your country's leader or your favourite President on the continent is missing. Have fun reading.
10. Ibrahim Traoré – Burkina Faso
Ibrahim Traoré is a Burkinabé military colonel who has served as the country's temporary leader since the 30th of September 2022 coup that deposed interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Traoré, 34, is the world's youngest presently sitting state leader and is known as a straight shooter.
He recently removed the country's ambassador to Ghana in response to Ghana's President's disparaging remarks against Burkina Faso. He is protected 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a prestigious military elite organization. He seldom travels, but when he does, he has a fleet of armoured automobiles escorting him in remote locations such as rooftops, trees, and masked personnel dressed in mufti robes.
9. Mamady Doumbouya – Guinean President
He knows a thing or two about security, therefore he doesn't allow for any nonsense. The president of Guinea's motorcade is rather meaty, not in terms of luxury, but of battle. He goes on the ground in Humvees and by air in helicopters. He is surrounded by a swarm of bodyguards who will go to any extent to keep him safe.
8. Paul Biya- President of Cameroon
Cameroon's president is President Paul Biya. He is Cameroon's executive head of state and de facto head of government, as well as the commander in chief of the armed forces. He exercises the power of the State. He has been in power for 37 years and is one of Africa's most powerful leaders. He is riding in a range rover sentinel worth 500,000 USD. On certain occasions, he rides in his armoured limousine.
The motorcade of President Paul Biya is one of the best in Africa. His convoy is made up of high-speed land cruisers and Mercedes Benz S-class vehicles. When he is out in public, his car is heavily guarded by a group of eight specially selected bodyguards who run on foot at both sides of the vehicle. He is sometimes accompanied by a fleet of horses. As a result, he is regarded as one of Africa’s most protected presidents.
7. Paul Kagame – President of Rwanda
Paul Kagame is a Rwandan politician and former military commander who has served as the country's fourth and current president since 2000.
He formerly served as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), an Uganda-based rebel organization that invaded Rwanda in 1990 and was one of the conflicting parties during the Rwandan Civil War, as well as the military force that halted the Rwandan genocide. He was regarded as Rwanda's de facto leader when serving as Vice President and Minister of Defence under President Pasteur Bizimungu from 1994 to 2000, after which the position of "Vice President" was abolished.
He is regarded as Africa's most popular and well-liked president due to his efforts to expose substandard African leadership as well as negative Western influence in African politics.
He drove a Range Rover worth Tsh 1.272 billion. He is constantly escorted by a fast Mercedes Benz, as well as multiple police motorbikes and land cruisers.
6. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi - President of Egypt.
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician and retired military commander who has been the country's sixth and current president since 2014. His presidential vehicle is a 2013 Mercedes S-Class with a distinctive black license plate.
He is now one of Africa's most protected presidents, and the fact that his country has one of the greatest armed forces in Africa is enough to ensure his safety. When he appears in public, he is followed by at least ten bodyguards, and his presidential convoy always includes high-speed motorcycles, a land cruiser, and a pair of armoured Mercedes Benz.
5. Cyril Ramaphosa – President of South Africa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African businessman and politician who is the country's fifth democratically elected president. Former anti-apartheid activist and trade unionist. Ramaphosa is also the African National Congress president. He was elected President of South Africa in 2019 and is one of the continent's most well-protected presidents. His motorcade is guarded by heavily armed presidential protection.
4. Muhammadu Buhari – President of Nigeria
Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is a Nigerian politician who has served as the country's president since 2015. Buhari is a former Nigerian Army major general who served as the country's military head of state from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985, following a military coup.
Buhari, as president of Africa's most populous country, is without a doubt one of the continent's most protected leaders. The Nigerian people are concerned about his safety and security. His presidential motorcade is one of the biggest and most spectacular in Africa. Buhari's protection is exceedingly tight. His motorcade always includes a high-speed police motorbike and many presidential guards, which he travels with on official business both inside and outside the nation.
3. Emmerson Mnangagwa – President of Zimbabwe
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician who has been the country's President since November 24, 2017. He is Zimbabwe's third elected president, having been born on September 15, 1942. After succeeding Robert Mugabe, he is now one of Africa's most well-protected rulers.
Zimbabwe has experienced a lot of political and civil violence in recent years, necessitating the president's strict protection, especially when he travels in and out of the nation on official business. In addition to high-speed police motorbikes, the president rides in an armoured limousine escorted by a significant number of presidential guards.
2. King Mohammed VI – King Of Morocco
Mohammed VI is Morocco's King. He is a member of the 'Alawi family and ascended to the throne on July 23, 1999, following the death of his father, King Hassan II. Upon succeeding the king, Mohammed instituted a series of changes and altered the Mudawana family code, providing women more power.
According to the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Mohammed is the eighth most influential Muslim in the world.
Morocco's king is one of the most protected leaders not only in the Maghreb region but across Africa. While in Morocco, his presidential vehicle is an armoured Mercedes 600 Pullman. When he travels to hilly areas, his motorcade usually consists of multiple Mercedes Benz S 500 and Range Rover models, a BMW S series with a communications unit, an ambulance, and several high-speed motorcyclists. Because King Mohammed V is Africa's richest president, he can afford to hire extra protection.
1. Allasane Ouattara – President of Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara has been the President of the Ivory Coast since 2010, and he is the country's fifth President. Mr Ouattara is currently one of Africa's best-protected rulers. When he travels in and out of the country on official business, he is accompanied by heavily armed security officers.
His presidential vehicle is followed on foot by heavily armed presidential protection until he is out of sight of the public. His convoy of high-speed motorcycles and armoured Land Cruisers follows him wherever he goes, creating one of the most impressive Presidential Motorcades.