List of State Leaders in 1979 - Africa

Africa

• Algeria
  • President -
    1. Rabah Bitat, Interim President of Algeria (1978–1979)
    2. Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria (1979–1992)
  • Prime Minister - Mohamed Ben Ahmed Abdelghani, Prime Minister of Algeria (1979–1984)
• Angola -
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Agostinho Neto, Secretary of the Popular Liberation Movement of Angola-Labor Party (1975–1979)
    2. José Eduardo dos Santos, Secretary of the Popular Liberation Movement of Angola-Labor Party (1979–1991)
  • President -
    1. Agostinho Neto, President of Angola (1975–1979)
    2. José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola (1979–present)
• Benin
  • Communist Party Leader - Mathieu Kérékou, Secretary of the Popular Revolutionary Party of Benin (1979–1990)
  • President - Mathieu Kérékou, President of Benin (1972–1991)
• Botswana
  • President - Sir Seretse Khama, President of Botswana (1966–1980)
• Burundi
  • President - Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, President of Burundi (1976–1987)
• Cameroon
  • President - Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon (1960–1982)
  • Prime Minister - Paul Biya, Prime Minister of Cameroon (1975–1982)
• Cape Verde
  • President - Aristides Pereira, President of Cape Verde (1975–1991)
  • Prime Minister - Pedro Pires, Prime Minister of Cape Verde (1975–1991)
• Central African Empire
  • name reverted to Central African Republic on 20 September 1979
  • Monarch - Bokassa I, Emperor of Central Africa (1966–1979)
  • President - David Dacko, President of the Central African Republic (1979–1981)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Henri Maïdou, Prime Minister of the Central African Empire (1978–1979)
    2. Bernard Ayandho, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic (1979–1980)
• Chad
  • Head of State -
    1. Félix Malloum, President of Chad (1975–1979)
    2. Goukouni Oueddei, Chairman of the Provisional Council of State of Chad (1979)
    3. Lol Mahamat Choua, President of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Chad (1979)
    4. Goukouni Oueddei, President of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Chad (1979–1982)
  • Prime Minister - Hissène Habré, Prime Minister of Chad (1978–1979)
• Comoros
  • President - Ahmed Abdallah President of the Comoros (1978–1989)
  • Prime Minister - Salim Ben Ali, Prime Minister of the Comoros (1978–1982)
• Congo
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Congolese Labor Party (1979)
    2. Denis Sassou Nguesso, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Congolese Labor Party (1979–1991)
  • Head of State -
    1. Joachim Yhombi-Opango, Head of State of Congo (1977–1979)
    2. Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (1979)
    3. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo (1979–1992)
  • Prime Minister - Louis Sylvain Goma, Prime Minister of Congo (1975–1984)
• Djibouti -
  • President - Hassan Gouled Aptidon, President of Djibouti (1977–1999)
  • Prime Minister - Barkat Gourad Hamadou, Prime Minister of Djibouti (1978–2001)
• Egypt
  • President - Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt (1970–1981)
  • Prime Minister - Mustafa Khalil, Prime Minister of Egypt (1978–1980)
• Equatorial Guinea
  • Head of State -
    1. Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong, President for Life of Equatorial Guinea (1968–1979)
    2. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present)
• Ethiopia
  • Head of State - Mengistu Haile Mariam, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces of Ethiopia (1977–1991)
• Gabon
  • President - Omar Bongo, President of Gabon (1967–2009)
  • Prime Minister - Léon Mébiame, Prime Minister of Gabon (1975–1994)
• The Gambia
  • President - Sir Dawda Jawara, President of The Gambia (1970–1994)
• Ghana
  • Head of State -
    1. Fred Akuffo, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Ghana (1978–1979)
    2. Jerry Rawlings, Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council of Ghana (1979)
    3. Hilla Limann, President of Ghana (1979–1981)
• Guinea
  • President - Ahmed Sékou Touré, President of Guinea (1958–1984)
  • Prime Minister - Louis Lansana Beavogui, Prime Minister of Guinea (1972–1984)
• Guinea-Bissau
  • Head of State - Luís Cabral, Chairman of the Council of State of Guinea-Bissau (1973–1980)
  • Prime Minister - João Bernardo Vieira, Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau (1978–1980)
• Ivory Coast
  • President - Félix Houphouët-Boigny, President of Ivory Coast (1960–1993)
• Kenya
  • President - Daniel arap Moi, President of Kenya (1978–2002)
• Lesotho
  • Monarch - Moshoeshoe II, King of Lesotho (1970–1990)
  • Prime Minister - Leabua Jonathan, Prime Minister of Lesotho (1965–1986)
• Liberia
  • President - William R. Tolbert, Jr., President of Liberia (1971–1980)
• Libya
  • De facto Head of State - Muammar Gaddafi, Guide of the Revolution of Libya (1969–2011)
  • Nominal Head of State -
    1. Muammar Gaddafi, Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council of Libya (1969–1979)
    2. Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, General Secretary of the General People's Congress of Libya (1979–1981)
  • Head of Government -
    1. Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, General Secretary of the General People's Committee of Libya (1977–1979)
    2. Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi, General Secretary of the General People's Committee of Libya (1979–1984)
• Madagascar
  • President - Didier Ratsiraka, President of Madagascar (1975–1993)
  • Prime Minister - Désiré Rakotoarijaona, Prime Minister of Madagascar (1977–1988)
• Malawi
  • President - Hastings Banda, President for Life of Malawi (1966–1994)
• Mali
  • President - Moussa Traoré, President of Mali (1968–1991)
• Mauritania
  • Head of State -
    1. Mustafa Ould Salek, Head of State of Mauritania (1978–1979)
    2. Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly, Head of State of Mauritania (1979–1980)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Prime Minister of Mauritania (1979)
    2. Ahmed Salem Ould Sidi, Acting Prime Minister of Mauritania (1979)
    3. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, Prime Minister of Mauritania (1979–1980)
• Mauritius
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Mauritius (1968–1992)
  • Governor-General - Sir Dayendranath Burrenchobay, Governor-General of Mauritius (1978–1983)
  • Prime Minister - Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius (1961–1982)
• Mayotte (Territorial collectivity of France)
  • Prefect - Jean Rigotard, Prefect of Mayotte (1978–1980)
  • President of the General Council - Younoussa Bamana, President of the General Council of Mayotte (1976–1991)
• Morocco
  • Monarch - Hassan II, King of Morocco (1961–1999)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ahmed Osman, Prime Minister of Morocco (1972–1979)
    2. Maati Bouabid, Prime Minister of Morocco (1979–1983)
  • Western Sahara (self-declared, partially recognized state)
    • President - Mohamed Abdelaziz, President of Western Sahara (1976–present)
    • Prime Minister - Mohamed Lamine Ould Ahmed, Prime Minister of Western Sahara (1976–1982)
• Mozambique
  • Communist Party Leader - Samora Machel, President of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (1975–1986)
  • President - Samora Machel, President of Mozambique (1975–1986)
• Niger
  • Head of State - Seyni Kountché, President of the Supreme Military Council of Niger (1974–1987)
• Nigeria
  • Head of State -
    1. Olusegun Obasanjo, Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria (1976–1979)
    2. Shehu Shagari, President of Nigeria (1979–1983)
• Rhodesia (unrecognized, de facto independent country)
  • see under Zimbabwe Rhodesia
• Rwanda
  • President - Juvénal Habyarimana, President of Rwanda (1973–1994)
• Saint Helena and Dependencies (British crown colony)
  • Governor - Geoffrey Colin Guy, Governor of Saint Helena (1976–1981)
• São Tomé and Príncipe
  • President - Manuel Pinto da Costa, President of São Tomé and Príncipe (1975–1991)
  • Prime Minister - Miguel Trovoada, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Principe (1975–1979)
• Senegal
  • President - Léopold Sédar Senghor, President of Senegal (1960–1980)
  • Prime Minister - Abdou Diouf, Prime Minister of Senegal (1970–1980)
• Seychelles
  • President - France-Albert René, President of Seychelles (1977–2004)
• Sierra Leone
  • President - Siaka Stevens, President of Sierra Leone (1971–1985)
• Somalia
  • Communist Party Leader - Siad Barre, Secretary-general of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (1976–1991)
  • President - Siad Barre, President of Somalia (1969–1991)
• South Africa
  • President -
    1. B. J. Vorster, State President of South Africa (1978–1979)
    2. Marais Viljoen, State President of South Africa (1979–1984)
  • Prime Minister - P. W. Botha, Prime Minister of South Africa (1978–1984)
  • South West Africa (League of Nations mandate administered by South Africa)
    • Administrator-General -
      1. Marthinus T. Steyn, Administrator-General of South West Africa (1977–1979)
      2. Gerrit Viljoen, Administrator-General of South West Africa (1979–1980)
• Southern Rhodesia (British crown colony)
  • see under Zimbabwe Rhodesia
• Sudan
  • President - Gaafar Nimeiry, President of Sudan (1969–1985)
  • Prime Minister - Gaafar Nimeiry, Prime minister of Sudan (1977–1985)
• Swaziland
  • Monarch - Sobhuza II, King of Swaziland (1921–1982)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Maphevu Dlamini, Prime Minister of Swaziland (1976–1979)
    2. Ben Nsibandze, Acting Prime Minister of Swaziland (1979)
    3. Prince Mabandla Dlamini, Prime Minister of Swaziland (1979–1983)
• Tanzania
  • President - Julius Nyerere, President of Tanzania (1962–1985)
  • Prime Minister - Edward Sokoine, Prime Minister of Tanzania (1977–1980)
• Togo
  • President - Gnassingbé Eyadéma, President of Togo (1967–2005)
• Tunisia
  • President - Habib Bourguiba, President for Life of Tunisia (1957–1987)
  • Prime Minister - Hedi Amara Nouira, Prime Minister of Tunisia (1970–1980)
• Uganda -
  • President -
    1. Idi Amin, President for Life of Uganda (1971–1979)
    2. Yusufu Lule, President of Uganda (1979)
    3. Godfrey Binaisa, President of Uganda (1979–1980)
• Upper Volta
  • President - Sangoulé Lamizana, President of Upper Volta (1966–1980)
  • Prime Minister - Joseph Conombo, Prime Minister of Upper Volta (1978–1980)
• Zaire
  • President - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire (1965–1997)
  • Head of Government -
    1. Mpinga Kasenda, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1977–1979)
    2. Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1979–1980)
• Zambia
  • President - Kenneth Kaunda, President of Zambia (1964–1991)
  • Prime Minister - Daniel Lisulo, Prime Minister of Zambia (1978–1981)
• Zimbabwe Rhodesia (unrecognized, de facto independent country)
  • Rhodesia changed name to Zimbabwe Rhodesia on 1 June 1979 and returned to British colonial status as Southern Rhodesia on 12 December 1979
  • President -
    1. Jack William Pithey, Acting President of Rhodesia (1978–1979)
    2. Henry Everard, Acting President of Rhodesia (1979)
    3. Josiah Zion Gumede, President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)
  • Governor - Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, Governor of Southern Rhodesia (1979–1980)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia (1965–1979)
    2. Abel Muzorewa, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)