Tunisia’s leader, Beji Qaid Al Sebsi, dies at 92

Tunisian President Beji Qaid Al Sebsi, the country’s first democratically elected leader, has died at 92, his office says.

Tunisian president Beji Qaid Al Sebsi—the world’s oldest president in service—turned 92 yesterday.

Al Sebsi has been Tunisia’s leader since December 2014 when he became the first freely and directly elected president.

He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1981 to 1986 and as Prime Minister from February 2011 to December 2011.

Al Sebsi founded the Nidaa Tounes political party that won the parliamentary elections in 2014.

Older world figures holding top offices, but not as presidents, are Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, born in July 1925, twice Prime Minister (1981–2003 and 2018–present) and Queen Elisabeth II, born in April 1926, and queen since 1952.