THEY WERE - AFRICA

1989-2019

During his rule, he was accused of a range of human rights violations including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him on 10 counts related to his actions in Darfur, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, rape, and pillaging. Additionally, he was accused of discrimination and marginalization of Sudan's non-Arab ethnic groups. In 2018, he was forced to step down due to large-scale protests, and in 2019 he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to two years in a correctional facility (anyone over 70 years old cannot go to prison under Sudanese law).

2008-2010

He rose to power following a military coup and promised to hold elections in the country. However, he was accused of various human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, including the massacre of 150 to 200 people in the Conakry Stadium in 2009. Camara was later convicted of rape, torture, and other serious crimes. He is currently facing life in prison for his acts.

1994-2017

He became known as a repressive leader who severely restricted freedom of speech and assembly, and was accused of numerous human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings. He also made several outrageous statements, including threatening to slit the throats and decapitate gay people, and predicting his own death in 2017. His authoritarian rule eventually led to a public uprising and forced him to flee the country in 2017 and to hide in Equatorial Guinea. With his crimes still unpunished, some people are now seeking justice.

1980-2017

He was a strong and authoritarian leader who sought to establish a one-party state in his country. His policies often involved the suppression of dissent and the imprisonment of political opponents. His rule was frequently accused of being oppressive and leading to economic decline. During his time in power, he was criticized for his human rights abuses and for the weakening of Zimbabwe's democratic institutions. He ultimately resigned from office in 2017.

1979-2011

He was an authoritarian who was considered to be a dictator by many. He used oppressive tactics to keep control of the country, such as censorship, imprisonment, and torture. He also was involved in international terrorism and human rights violations, and accused of ethnic cleansing and bombing of civilians (Lybian Civil War - 2011). He was also known for his eccentric and flamboyant style. His harsch policies eventually led to his downfall. 

1965-1997

This former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (which he renamed Zaire from 1971 to his death in 1997), was viewed as a dictator due to his authoritarian and oppressive rule over the country. He came to power through a military coup and ruled for over three decades, during which he amassed immense wealth and power for himself and his inner circle. His regime was characterized by corruption, nepotism, and human rights abuses, leading to widespread poverty and suffering among the Congolese people. His lavish lifestyle and disregard for the well-being of his citizens further solidified his image as a dictator.

1974-1991

He used military force to seize power in a 1974 coup and enforced strict control of the country with his Marxist-Leninist government. He suspended the constitution, arrested his political opponents, and ignored civil rights and liberties. He also established a one-party system, centralized control of the media, and censored public criticism of his government. He further restricted the public by imposing curfews, banning travel, and engaging in human rights violations such as torture and arbitrary arrest. During his rule, Ethiopia experienced a severe famine between 1983 to 1985. This was caused by several factors, including drought, a civil war, and his policies of forced resettlement and collectivization of agriculture. His government is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of 500,000 to 2,000,000 Ethiopians. In 2007, an Ethiopian court verdict found him guilty of genocide in absentia.

1971-1979

He rose to power in a military coup in 1971. He is known for his brutal rule and oppressive policies, which led to the massacre of an estimated 300,000 Ugandans. He also expelled thousands of citizens of Asian origin and implemented a number of repressive measures, including torture, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances. His regime was characterized by corruption, nepotism, and human rights abuses. He is viewed as one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century.

1968-1979

He was a despotic and oppressive ruler, responsible for the deaths of between 20,000 and 80,000 of his citizens. He was known for his brutal regime which saw the systematic torture of those who opposed him, the destruction of the country’s economy, and the collapse of social services. He was also known for his violent paranoia, which led to widespread purges and executions, and his megalomania, which included  the destruction of religious buildings and the renaming of cities after himself. Medical reports suggested that he was mentally unstable. He was sentenced to death 101 times during his trial. He was eventually executed in 1979. 

1966-1975

He presided over a controversial Nigerian Civil War (also known as the Biafran War) that is listed as one of the deadliest in modern history, with some accusing him of crimes against humanity and genocide. While he was able to bring stability and increase economic growth, his rule was marked by human rights abuses and corruption. He also used his power to enrich himself and his family, and many of his policies were seen as benefiting a select few rather than the population at large. He was able to maintain his authority until 1975 when he was overthrown by a military coup.