As the saying goes, “safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless,” African presidents have taken it upon themselves to ensure they are well protected and comfortable as they serve their nations. Protecting themselves is a way of curbing unexpected attacks that could ruin their reign. Here are the most protected African presidents who have maintained a strong security detail during their presidential terms in no particular order.
Paul Biya (Cameroon)
Paul Biya, the president of Cameroon, has been the president since 1982. He is highly protected with a convoy that comprises Land Cruisers and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, plus over 20 high-speed motorcycles. Paul Biya is driven in an armored range rover sentinel estimated to be about US$500,000 and an armored Limousine on special occasions. He also takes over twenty bodyguards for his safety and protection each time he travels to another country on certain occasions.
Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe)
Emmerson Mnangagwa, nicknamed “Garwe” or “Ngwena,” which means Crocodile, a name that was initially named for the guerrilla group he had founded, is the third and current president of Zimbabwe and has been president since 2017. Emmerson has taken many security measures as president to ensure his safety, as his convoy is usually made of high speeding motorcycles, as Emmerson is driven in an Armored Limousine by several presidential guides.
Abdel Fattah Al-Sis (Egypt)
Abdel Fattah Al-Sis is the sixth president of Egypt and has been president of the nation for the last six years and is also among the most protected presidents driven in a black armored 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with a special number plate car. Abdel Fattah’s motorcade comprises high-speed bikes and luxury cars such as Land Cruisers and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and when the president is out of the country, he takes with him over 10 bodyguards for his safety and protection.
Alpha Condé (Guinea)
Alpha Condé is the president of Guinea as he was recently sworn in for his third term as president, the nation as he is known for being one of the most protected African presidents who cruise in an Armored Mercedes-Benz Pullman presidential car along with high speeding land cruisers and over 10 high-speed police motorcycles. Alpha Condé minds his safety and protection as each time he gets close to Guinea’s citizens, he is highly protected by 20 bodyguards wherever he goes and on his international trips.
Alassane Ouattara (Ivory coast)
Alassane Ouattara has been the president of the Ivory coast since 2010 and is still the ruling president of the nation. Alassane is highly and heavily protected by armed security guards in and out of his nation. Alassane is driven in an Armored vehicle surrounded by bodyguards who follow his car on foot until he gets out at his destination in the reach of many people. The president’s motorcade comprises a convoy of high-speed vehicles and motorcycles to ensure the president’s safety.
King Mohammed VI (Morocco)
King Mohammed VI is the richest leader in Africa, as his wealth by Forbes was estimated to be approximately US$2.1 billion. King Mohammed is driven in an Armored Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, while his motorcade includes luxury cars such as Mercedes-Benz S5-500 and range rover cars. On occasions where King Mohammed visits mountainous areas, he uses a BMW 5 Series and an ambulance plus communication jumper escorted by over 20 police motorcycles for his protection.
King Mswati III (Swaziland)
Mswati III is the king of Eswatini and head of the Swazi Royal Family. As a king that loves to portray his African culture and values, they usually see Mswati III shirtless on various occasions—something that raises eyebrows on his security detail. Well-armed security guards on motorcycles follow him around everywhere he goes, plus a couple of bodyguards for his protection.
Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria)
Muhammadu Buhari is currently Nigeria’s president and is known for his efforts to make Nigeria’s economy the giant of Africa. Muhammadu drives an Armored car and owns the largest motorcade among all the African presidents, as it’s made of several police motorcycles and high-speed luxury Mercedes-Benz. Muhammadu Buhari takes over 10 or more bodyguards for his safety and protection on missions out of Nigeria that ensures his well-taken care of.
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (Kenya)
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is currently the head of the state of Kenya and is also one of the most protected African presidents. Uhuru Kenyatta is driven in an Armored Land Cruiser 200 alongside a convoy of 10 high-speed motorcycles and high-speed expensive cars that include Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Range Rover, and while out of Kenya for his duties and assignments Kenyatta, takes with him over 10 security guards.
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa)
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is the president of South Africa since 2018 and has ruled the nation for 2 years, making it to this list of most protected presidents in Africa. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa travels in an armored motorcade that is highly and heavily guarded by high speeding police motorcycles, vehicles, and several bodyguards for his security.
Paul Kagame (Rwanda)
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current president of Rwanda and is known to be Africa’s sweetheart for his braveness towards his thoughts on the bad western influence in Africa and his developmental ideologies for Rwanda that have made the nation the cleanest country in Africa and the fast-developing country. Paul Kagame has the most expensive presidential car in Africa that is estimated to be over US$550,000 an Armored Range Rover Sentinel, and his convoy comprises several high-speed motorcycles and vehicles such as the Land Cruisers Mercedes-Benz. Security guards, on occasions, he appears in public.
It’s very understandable for some of these presidents to protect themselves because of their contributions and their behavior impact that might be an outcome of a security threat. The high-security detail ensures protection from enemy attacks.
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