History of African presidents who died while in office

Here is a list of African presidents who died while in office, along with a brief history of their tenure and the circumstances surrounding their deaths:

1. Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Côte d’Ivoire): Félix Houphouët-Boigny served as the President of Côte d’Ivoire from 1960 until his death on December 7, 1993. He was the first president of independent Côte d’Ivoire and held office for over three decades. Houphouët-Boigny died at the age of 88 due to natural causes.
2. Samuel K. Doe (Liberia): Samuel K. Doe was the President of Liberia from 1980 until his death on September 9, 1990. Doe came to power through a military coup and ruled Liberia during a period of political instability. He was overthrown during the Liberian Civil War and was captured, tortured, and killed by rebel forces.
3. Juvénal Habyarimana (Rwanda): Juvénal Habyarimana served as the President of Rwanda from 1973 until his death on April 6, 1994. Habyarimana’s death resulted from the shooting down of his plane, which also killed the President of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira. This event triggered the Rwandan Genocide, leading to a period of mass killings and ethnic violence in Rwanda.
4. Cyprien Ntaryamira (Burundi): Cyprien Ntaryamira was the President of Burundi from 1994 until his death on April 6, 1994. He died in the same plane crash as Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana. The circumstances surrounding the plane crash remain controversial, and the event contributed to the escalation of the Burundian Civil War.
5. Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo): Gnassingbé Eyadéma served as the President of Togo from 1967 until his death on February 5, 2005. He came to power through a military coup and maintained a strong grip on Togo’s political landscape for several decades. Eyadéma died of a heart attack while in office. His son, Faure Gnassingbé, succeeded him as president.
6. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (Nigeria): Umaru Musa Yar’Adua served as the President of Nigeria from 2007 until his death on May 5, 2010. Yar’Adua’s presidency was marked by health issues, and he sought medical treatment abroad for an extended period. He died of a long-standing illness, and Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President, assumed the presidency.
7. John Atta Mills (Ghana): John Atta Mills was the President of Ghana from 2009 until his death on July 24, 2012. Mills was known for his commitment to democratic governance and was the first Ghanaian president to die while in office. He died at the age of 68, reportedly due to a sudden illness.
8. Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia): Meles Zenawi served as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 until his death on August 20, 2012. Zenawi was a key figure in Ethiopian politics and played a significant role in the country’s development. He died after a prolonged illness, and Hailemariam Desalegn succeeded him as Prime Minister.

These are some notable examples of African presidents who died while in office. It’s important to note that political circumstances and events surrounding their deaths varied