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• Key findings reveal unique challenges in developing HE leadership in the Global South, emphasizing the need for context-specific strategies. • The research identifies a predominance of transformational leadership style among HEIs in the Global South, highlighting its impact on university performance. • Findings reveal the significant role of gender in leadership styles and the importance of fostering gender diversity and inclusivity in HE leadership. • The study highlights the essential attributes of effective HE leadership in the Global South, including personal, interpersonal, teaching, and academic capacities. • The analysis points to the necessity of tailoring leadership development interventions to the socio-economic and cultural contexts of the Global South for enhanced effectiveness. Leadership in higher education institutions (HEIs) is crucial in shaping their strategic direction, performance, and overall success. Although scholarly exploration into leadership attributes in higher education (HE) has been expanding over the years, the predominant focus of these studies has been on the Global North, with a noticeable scarcity of literature addressing leadership trends in HEIs of the Global South. This systematic literature review (SLR) addresses the research gap by providing a critical examination of HE leadership trends in the Global South, reviewing literature from 2013 to 2023 based on PRISMA 2020. Following a preliminary search that identified 1653 articles and three screening phases, 32 articles were selected for analysis. Key findings highlight the unique challenges faced by HEIs in the Global South in developing HE leadership. Furthermore, the findings reveal a predominance of transformational leadership style. The findings also indicate a significant interplay between gender and leadership styles as well as the attributes of effective HE leadership in the Global South. The study offers valuable insights for stakeholders, highlighting the necessity for tailored leadership development interventions that address the unique contexts of these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]