The Africa Review has compiled and analysed salaries of African leaders to try and see what they tell about the relationship between those in power and their subjects.

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto last year announced a voluntary 20 per cent salary cut and invited other top government officials to follow suit. A few did, reluctantly.

In Tunisia, former President Moncef Marzouki, then facing an economic crisis in the post-revolution period, announced a two-thirds pay cut, slicing his annual pay from around $176,868 to 'just’ $58,956 .

Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari recently announced that he will take a voluntary salary pay cut, which is a good gesture.

Below is a brief summary of 30 highest earning African Presidents:

                Country                Net pay per anum           President

1              Cameroon           US$610,000         Paul Biya

2              Morocco              US$480,000         King Mohammed VI

3              South Africa       US$272,000         Jacob Zuma

4              Tanzania              US$192,000         Jakaya Kikwete

5              Algeria US$164,000         Abdel Aziz Bouteflika

6              Equatorial Guinea            US$150,000         Theodore Nguema

7              Kenya   US$132,000         Uhuru Kenyatta

8              Somalia                US$120,000         Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

9              Comoros              US$115,000         Ikililou Dhoinine

10           Congo Republic                 US$110,000         Denis Sassou Nguesso

11           Namibia               US$110,000         Hage Geingob

12           Zimbabwe           US$108,000         Robert Mugabe

13           Mauritius             US$104,838         Ameenah Gurib

14           Cote D’Ivoire     US$100,000         Alassane Ouattara

15           Liberia   US$90,000           Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

16           Rwanda                US$85,000           Paul Kagame

17           Angola US$81,075           José Eduardo dos Santos

18           Ghana   US$76,000           John Dramani Mahama

19           Malawi US$75,348           Peter Mutharika

20           Egypt     US$72,000           Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

21           Nigeria US$70,000           Muhammadu Buhari

22           Mali       US$69,609           Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

23           Botswana            US$66,713           Ian Khama

24           Gabon US$65,000           Ali Bongo Ondimba

25           Zambia US$56,000           Edgar Lungu

26           Dr.Congo             US$52,97             Joseph Kabila

27           Swaziland            US$52,128           Mswati III

28           Mozambique     US$47,500           Filipe Nyusi

29           Ethiopia                US$44,472           Mulatu Teshome

30           Lesotho                US$36,000           Letsie III

 When most African leaders get into power, the first thing they do is to increase their salaries. Among the leaders who have done so include King Mswati of Swaziland, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola

African presidents are among the highest paid presidents in the World despite the continent being ranked the poorest.

However, Zimbabwe's President Mugabe reportedly awarded himself a whopping 300 percent increase over the past year, from $4 000 a month to 8,000 a month. When allowances are included, President Mugabe personally revealed that he gets $12,000 per month.