Africa’s under-40 presidents are both soldiers: Mali’s Goita, Chad’s Mahamat

• Africa as at June 2021 Africa had only two presidents below the age of 40

• The two incidentally are soldiers and were unelected – 38-year-old Malian colonel by name Assimi Goita and 35-year Mahamat Deby Itno who is Chad’s transitional president

• Both men are known to be career soldiers who served in the frontline of the army

Despite most leaders across the continent being well past their sixties, there are two African leaders who are currently under the age of 40.

The two are Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali and General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno of Chad.

Incidentally, the two young leaders have stark similarities in their personalities and the manner through which they came into office.

The two are trained soldiers and both remain in the service despite rising to the office of president.

Meet 38-year-old Col Assimi Goita of Mali

He rose to prominence on August 18, 2020 when he announced the arrest of then president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, IBK.

He was leader of the now disbanded National Committee for the Salvation of the People, CNSP – a junta of disgruntled army officers who promised to return the country to civilian rule as soon as possible.

In the transitional government, Goïta – a special forces commander served as vice-president, with direct responsibility for defence and security.

He eventually unilaterally removed transition president Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane for lack of consultation and installed himslef president, a move the Constitutional Court backed.

His second coup has however attracted suspensions from regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union.

Profile of Colonel Assimi Goita: West Africa’s youngest president

Meet 37-year-old Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno

On April 20, 2021, Africa had its youngest Head of State in the person of Mahamat ibn Déby Itno, who became new Head of State of Chad, succeeding his father, former President Idriss Deby, who died whiles fighting rebels in the frontline.

After the army announced senior Deby’s death, the consitution was suspended and a transitional military council constituted with Mahamat as its leader.

Mahamat previously served as the second in command of the Armed Forces for the Chadian Intervention in Northern Mali (FATIM).

Mahamat first enrolled at the Joint Grouping of military schools in Chad. He subsequently received training in France, at the military school of Aix-en-Provence.

Upon his return, he was enrolled in the second promotion of semi-direct of the school of officer inter arme and later was appointed to the service branch for the Security of State Institutions (SERS), as a deputy commander of the Groupement of Infenterie.

He is a battlefield soldier who is credited with leading and or playing pivotal role in offensive at home or within the subregion.

What remains to be seen is if he would retire from the military within the transition period and like his father don the political garb to contest for office.

Meet Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno – president’s son who is now president