List of State Leaders in 1981 - Africa

Africa

• Algeria -
  • President - Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria (1979–1992)
  • Prime Minister - Mohamed Ben Ahmed Abdelghani, Prime Minister of Algeria (1979–1984)
• Angola -
  • Communist Party Leader - José Eduardo dos Santos, Secretary of the Popular Liberation Movement of Angola-Labor Party (1979–1991)
  • President - 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 - Quett Masire, President of Botswana (1980–1998)
• 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 Republic
  • President -
    1. David Dacko, President of the Central African Republic (1979–1981)
    2. André Kolingba, Chairman of the Military Committee of National Recovery of the Central African Republic (1981–1993)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Jean-Pierre Lebouder, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic (1980–1981)
    2. Simon Narcisse Bozanga, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic (1981)
• Chad -
  • Head of State - Goukouni Oueddei, President of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Chad (1979–1982)
• 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 - Denis Sassou Nguesso, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Congolese Labor Party (1979–1991)
  • President - 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 -
    1. Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt (1970–1981)
    2. Sufi Abu Talib, Acting President of Egypt (1981)
    3. Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt (1981–2011)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Anwar Sadat, Prime Minister of Egypt (1980–1981)
    2. Hosni Mubarak, Prime Minister of Egypt (1981–1982)
• Equatorial Guinea -
  • Head of State - 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)
    • Kukoi Sanyang, Chairman of the National Revolutionary Council of The Gambia (in rebellion) (1981)
• Ghana -
  • President
    1. Hilla Limann, President of Ghana (1979–1981)
    2. Jerry Rawlings, Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council of Ghana (1981–2001)
• 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 - João Bernardo Vieira, Chairman of the Council of the Revolution of Guinea-Bissau (1980–1984)
• 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 - Samuel Doe, President of Liberia (1980–1990)
• Libya
  • De facto Head of State - Muammar Gaddafi, Guide of the Revolution of Libya (1969–2011)
  • Nominal Head of State -
    1. Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, General Secretary of the General People's Congress of Libya (1979–1981)
    2. Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab, General Secretary of the General People's Congress of Libya (1981–1984)
  • Head of Government - 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 Rakatoarijaona, 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 - Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, Head of State of Mauritania (1980–1984)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Sid Ahmed Ould Bneijara, Prime Minister of Mauritania (1980–1981)
    2. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, Prime Minister of Mauritania (1981–1984)
• 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 -
    1. Philippe Jacques Nicolas Kessler, Prefect of Mayotte (1980–1981)
    2. Pierre Sevellec, Prefect of Mayotte (1981–1982)
  • 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 - 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 -
  • President - Shehu Shagari, President of Nigeria (1979–1983)
• Rwanda -
  • President - Juvénal Habyarimana, President of Rwanda (1973–1994)
• Saint Helena and Dependencies (British crown colony until 1981, afterwards British dependent territory)
  • Governor -
    1. Geoffrey Colin Guy, Governor of Saint Helena (1976–1981)
    2. Sir John Dudley Massingham, Governor of Saint Helena (1981–1984)
• São Tomé and Príncipe -
  • President - Manuel Pinto da Costa, President of São Tomé and Príncipe (1975–1991)
• Senegal
  • President - Abdou Diouf, President of Senegal (1981–2000)
  • Prime Minister - Habib Thiam, Prime Minister of Senegal (1981–1983)
• Seychelles -
  • President - France-Albert René, President of Seychelles (1977–2004)
• Sierra Leone -
  • President - Siaka Stevens, President of Sierra Leone (1978–1985)
• 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 - 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 - Danie Hough, Administrator-General of South West Africa (1980–1983)
    • Premier - Dirk Mudge, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of South West Africa (1980–1983)
• Sudan -
  • President - Gaafar Nimeiry, President of Sudan (1969–1985)
  • Prime Minister - Gaafar Nimeiry, Prime Minister of the Sudan (1977–1985)
• Swaziland
  • Monarch - Sobhuza II, King of Swaziland (1921–1982)
  • Prime Minister - 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 - Mohammed Mzali, Prime Minister of Tunisia (1980–1986)
• Uganda -
  • President - Milton Obote, President of Uganda (1980–1985)
  • Prime Minister - Otema Alimadi, Prime Minister of Uganda (1980–1985)
• Upper Volta -
  • Head of State - Saye Zerbo, President of the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress of Upper Volta (1980–1982)
  • Prime Minister - Saye Zerbo, Prime Minister of Upper Volta (1980–1982)
• Zaire
  • President - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire (1965–1997)
  • Head of Government -
    1. Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1980–1981)
    2. N'singa Udjuu Ongwabeki Untubu, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1981–1982)
• Zambia
  • President - Kenneth Kaunda, President of Zambia (1964–1991)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Daniel Lisulo, Prime Minister of Zambia (1978–1981)
    2. Nalumino Mundia, Prime Minister of Zambia (1981–1985)
• Zimbabwe -
  • President - Canaan Banana, President of Zimbabwe (1980–1987)
  • Prime Minister - Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (1980–1987)