Moktar Ould Daddah was the first president of independent Mauritania. He was born on December 25, 1924, at Boutilimit, Mauritania, French West Africa. His parents were Muhammadun Ould Daddah and Khadijattou Mahmoul Brahim. He was descended from a family of Muslim religious scholars and political … Read MoreMoktar Ould Daddah (1924-2003)
Samuel Shafiihuna (“a time of trouble”) Daniel Nujoma was born on May 12, 1929, in Ongandjera, Ovamboland, South West Africa (former German colony administered by South Africa). He was to become the first President of Namibia in1990. His parents, Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo and Daniel Uutoni … Read MoreSam Nujoma (1929- )
Mohammed ben Youssef, the third son of Sultan Moulay Youssef, was born on August 10, 1909, in Fez, Morocco. He became King Mohammed V of independent Morocco. When Mohammed was born, Morocco was a French protectorate. As a child, he received a traditional Koranic education … Read MoreMohammed V (1909-1961)
James Mancham was the first President of the independent nation of Seychelles. He was born on August 11, 1939, the son of Richard and Evelyn (nee Tirant) Mancham, a wealthy family, on the island of Mahe, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago which was … Read MoreJames Richard Marie Mancham (1939-2017)
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the first Prime Minister of independent Mauritius. He was born on September 18, 1900, at Belle Rive, Flacq District, Mauritius which was then a British colony. His father, Moheeth Ramgoolam, had immigrated to Mauritius from India at the age of 18. He … Read MoreSeewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900-1985)
The first president of Sao Tome and Principe, two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, was Manuel Pinto da Costa. He was born in Agua Grande on Sao Tome Island on August 5, 1937. At that time Sao Tome and Principe was a Portuguese colony. … Read MoreManuel Pinto da Costa
(1937- )
Mohamed Naguib was the first leader of the Egyptian Republic. He was born in Khartoum, Sudan on February 20, 1901, to Youssef Naguib, an Egyptian army officer, and his wife Zohra Ahmed Othman. His secondary school education was at Gordon Memorial College in Khartoum, graduating … Read MoreMohamed Naguib (1901-1984)
The Republic of Botswana’s first president was Seretse Khama. He was born on July 1, 1921, at Serowe in the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland. His grandfather was paramount chief (kgosi) Kigama III. In 1923 his son, Seretse’s father became Kgosi Sekgoma II. Upon Sekgoma’s death … Read MoreSeretse Khama (1921-1980)
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti. He was born to Issa nomads at Garissa near the port of Zeila in French Somaliland on October 15, 1916. At the age of 14, he left home and traveled to Djibouti the largest city in … Read MoreHassan Gouled Aptidon (1916-2006)
Muhammed Idris as-Senussi was born on March 12, 1889, or 1890 in Al Jaghbub in Cyrenaica (a province of the Ottoman Empire in today’s Libya). His parents were Muhammed al-Mahdi as-Senussi and Aisha bint Muqarrib al-Barasa. Idris was the grandson of the founder and chief … Read MoreKing Idris (1889/90-1983)
