Africa's political dynasties: How presidents groom their sons for power

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightVincent Fournier/Jeune Afrique-REA

Congo-Brazzaville’s President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has appointed his son Denis-Christel as a cabinet minister – a move that has revived media speculation that he has a dynastic succession in mind.

Not that such a transition looks imminent. Elected to a further term in March, after ruling the country for all but five of the past 41 years, there’s no sign of the 77-year old head of state losing his appetite for wielding power himself.

Yet if