List of African Presidents With Unique Dress Codes
- President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria made the list of eight African presidents recognised for their unique dress codes
- The Nigerian president neither ranked number one on the continent nor placed last
- The eight African leaders were known worldwide for their unique fashion statements, often showcased at international conferences
A number of African presidents stand out from the rest, courtesy of their unique dress codes. From crisp suits to scarves and hats, these presidents have created long-lasting identities.
No fewer than eight of them have been identified by their unique dressings, which are associated with them wherever they appear across the globe. The full list of these presidents with unique dress codes has been compiled.
Source: Twitter
Below is the list of the African presidents with unique dress codes:
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
According to TRT Afrika, the Ugandan president often referred to himself as "the old man with the hat", indeed, the wide-brimmed hat and the 80-year-old President Museveni have been inseparable for many years now.
Museveni is a former military officer who has been the ninth president of Uganda since 1986. Currently, the Ugandan president is the longest-serving non-royal national leader globally.
Source: AFP
Kenya's William Ruto
The 58-year-old came to power in September 2022 and immediately chose a dress code to set him apart from his predecessor, Ururu Kenyata, and to some extent, other African leaders.
President Ruto settled on a Kaunda suit with a short-sleeved shirt. His administration has since faced different protests over his economic policies.
Botswana's Duma Gideon Boko
Despite his fashion style being versatile, the 55-year-old President Boko's suits stand out. They are of well-pressed fabric and often give off a polished and sophisticated appearance.
His razor-line haircut also strongly identifies him as the head of state and a lawyer by profession. He is the sixth president of the country who assumed office on November 1, 2024.
Source: AFP
Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe
The 82-year-old Zimbabwean president often wears a scarf bearing the country's national flag colours: red, yellow, green, white and black.
During an international summit, President Mnangagwa hardly leaves his scarf behind. That has remained his trademark.
Source: AFP
Nigeria's Bola Tinubu
The 73-year-old president of the West African country likes his flowing, wide-sleeved attire, traditionally worn by Nigerian men. The attire is known as "Agbada", among the Yoruba community, the same tribe from which President Tinubu came.
The attire is also popular among the Hausa community, and a similar outfit is called "Baban riga". Tinubu also has a unique cap as his identity, which has been adopted by many of his supporters.
Source: Twitter
Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan
The 65-year-old Tanzanian head of state always wears her hijab in public in compliance with her Islamic religion, constantly in perfect shape.
President Suluhu Hassan's hijab often makes her stand out from her fellow African leaders, especially during group photograph sessions.
Source: Twitter
Namibia's Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
The 72-year-old president often wears a head wrap, which has become her trademark in the southern African country.
She wore one during her swearing-in as the fifth president of Namibia on March 21, 2025. She is a liberation fighter and the first female head of state of Namibia.
Burkina Faso's Captain Ibrahim Traore
The 37-year-old leader is frequently seen wearing military attire, even during international visits. Captain Traore came to power through a military coup that toppled the regime of the then-military head of state, Paul Henry Damiba, in September 2022.
Now, Traore's youthful demeanour, pan-African sentiments, and calls to strengthen Africa's sovereignty have earned him significant admiration.
Source: AFP
Video of the African presidents:
South Africa, Rwanda clash over Congo crisis
Legit.ng earlier reported that South Africa and Rwanda renewed their rivalry in the Southern African region, particularly with the crisis rocking the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The situation escalated when President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa accused the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda of killing his country's peacekeepers in DR Congo.
South Africa then took a diplomatic salvo, saying further attacks on its troops would be seen as a "declaration of war".
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
