President Ilham Aliyev is the 4th President of Azerbaijan, serving since October 2003, and winning a fifth term in February 2024, securing 92% of the vote. He is the son of Heydar Aliyev, who was president from 1993 to 2003. He is an advocate of a moderate cultural Islam for Azerbaijan’s 9.8 million Muslim citizens, about 80% of whom are Shia.
Birth: 24 December 1961 (Age: 63)
Source of Influence: Political
Influence: Political
School of Thought: Modernist Sunni
Status: Featured in current year
Early life: Aliyev completed a PhD in history at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, where he remained as a lecturer from 1985 to 1990. From 1991 to 1994 he was involved in various business enterprises, then became vice president of the Azerbaijan oil and gas company, entering into politics in the late 1990s.
Prosperity from oil: Azerbaijan, endowed with abundant oil reserves, has experienced a period of prosperity and stability that has positively impacted its people. The country’s economic growth has driven advancements in banking, construction, telecommunications, and particularly in the oil and gas sectors, which serve as pillars of Azerbaijan’s economy. These developments have contributed to improved infrastructure, job creation, and enhanced public services, benefiting the broader population.
Foreign policy: During President Aliyev’s tenure, Azerbaijan strengthened its ties and cooperation with the European Union (EU), developed economic relations with Russia, and cooperated with NATO. He also established close relations with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and was elected the chair of the Turkic Council in 2019.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Nagorno-Karabakh, recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan, has a majority Armenian population and is partially controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, which is not recognised by any UN member states. A war in 2020 resulted in Azerbaijan’s victory.
