Olusegun Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo is a Nigerian former military officer and political leader who served as military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and as elected president from 1999 to 2007. He later undertook senior peace and mediation assignments for the United Nations and African Union.

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About Olusegun Obasanjo

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Military officer, Politician, International peace mediator

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Known for: Nigerian democratic transition and national leadership; African Union peace and mediation efforts; Great Lakes region diplomacy
Country: Nigeria

Military officer
Politician
International peace mediator

At a glance

Obasanjo led Nigeria as military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and as elected president from 1999 to 2007.
As military head of state, he presided over the 1979 transition to civilian rule and transferred power to an elected government.
His international assignments included service as United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region and African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa.
In May 2026, the African Union assigned him to support renewed peace and stability efforts in the Horn of Africa, although the announcement did not specify a formal title or mandate duration.

Military background

Born on 5 March 1937 in present-day Ogun State, Obasanjo joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. He received military training in England and India and later served in the Nigerian Civil War before rising to national leadership.

Leadership of Nigeria

Obasanjo became Nigeria's military head of state in February 1976 and oversaw the transfer of power to an elected civilian government in October 1979. After being tried and sentenced in 1995 over an alleged coup plot, he was released following the death of military ruler Sani Abacha in 1998 and returned to electoral politics. He was inaugurated as civilian president on 29 May 1999 and began a second term on 29 May 2003, serving until 2007.

African Union leadership

While serving as Nigeria's president, Obasanjo became chairperson of the African Union in July 2004. African Union records differ slightly on the endpoint of that tenure, describing it as ending either in December 2005 or January 2006.

Peace and mediation work

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Obasanjo as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region in December 2008. The African Union appointed him High Representative for the Horn of Africa in August 2021, with a mandate to engage political actors and other stakeholders in support of durable peace and stability. A further African Union announcement in May 2026 assigned him to support Horn of Africa peace efforts, but did not establish a formal title, mandate duration, or whether the assignment superseded or extended his 2021 appointment.

Timeline

1958 Joined the Nigerian Army.
1976-02-13 Began service as Nigeria's military head of state.
1979-10-01 Ended military rule and transferred power to a civilian government after Nigeria's 1979 transition.
1998 Was released from imprisonment following the death of military ruler Sani Abacha and returned to electoral politics.
1999-05-29 Was inaugurated as Nigeria's elected civilian president.
2003-05-29 Began his second elected presidential term.
2004-07 Began tenure as chairperson of the African Union.
2008-12-09 Was appointed United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region.
2021-08-26 Was appointed African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa.

Additional verified details

Current context

On 14 May 2026, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission appointed Obasanjo to support the Commission's efforts toward peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The announcement says he will engage relevant stakeholders to build confidence, sustain dialogue, and support peace, stability, and reconciliation. It does not specify a formal title, mandate duration, end date, or whether the assignment supersedes or extends his 2021 appointment.

Biographical facts

Olusegun Obasanjo was born on 5 March 1937 in present-day Ogun State, Nigeria.
He joined the Nigerian Army in 1958, received military training in England and India, and later served in the Nigerian Civil War.
As military head of state, Obasanjo presided over Nigeria's 1979 transition to civilian rule and transferred power to an elected civilian government.
In 1995, Obasanjo was tried and sentenced in a case alleging involvement in a coup plot against the Sani Abacha military government. He was released in 1998 after Abacha's death and returned to electoral politics.
Obasanjo was declared the winner of Nigeria's 2003 presidential election and was sworn in for a second presidential term on 29 May 2003.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Obasanjo as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region in December 2008.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission appointed Obasanjo as High Representative for the Horn of Africa in August 2021, with a mandate to engage political actors and stakeholders in support of durable peace and stability.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with Olusegun Obasanjo.

Federal Republic of Nigeria Head of State under military government 1976-02-13–1979-10-01
Federal Republic of Nigeria President 1999-05-29–2007-05-29
African Union Chairperson 2004-07
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1976-02-13–1979-10-01