PRESIDENTIAL LONGEVITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: MILITARY CONGRUENCE, MILITARY STATUS, ETHNIC DIVERSITY, AND PRESIDENTIAL ORDER - A RESEARCH NOTE

We examined data on 45 Sub-Saharan African countries, from independence to 1999, on the characteristics of top political leaders and how long they remained in power. We found that (1) first presidents remain in power longer than later presidents, (2) presidents who choose at least one vice president from an ethnic group other than their own remain in power longer than those who do not, (3) military presidents who have military congruence (are from the same ethnic group which dominates the military) remain in power longer than military presidents who lack it, but military congruence makes minimal difference for civilian presidents, (4) being from the military has no significant effect on remaining in power.