6. General Idris Deby (Chad) – in office for 26 years
A graduate of Muommar Gaddafi’s World Revolutionary Center, the President of Chad has survived rebellions, won elections, had term limits on the presidential post removed and won the elections that came thereafter. Since taking office in December 1990, the 64 year old son of a herder has seen the country get crippled by poverty despite possessing oil reserves.
General Idriss Déby Itno ( born June 18, 1952) is a Chadian politician who has been the President of Chad since 1990. He is also head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Déby is of the Bidyat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. He took power at the head of a rebellion against President Hissène Habré in December 1990 and has since survived various rebellions against his own rule. He won elections in 1996 and 2001, and after term limits were eliminated he won again in 2006, 2011, and 2016. He added “Itno” to his surname in January 2006. He is a graduate of Muammar Gaddafi’s World Revolutionary Center.
