The regime of most of these African dictators was marked by horror, terror, chaos and bloodshed. Some of these dictators were notorious leaders, and some have led their country towards economic prosperity while others started on the right path and lost their way.

5. Omar Al-Bashir (Sudan: 1989-Present)

Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir has been the leader of Sudan since 1989 when he took power in a military coup. Al-Bashir is one of the most brutal dictators in Africa and despite ICC’s warrant against him; he remains the president of Sudan.

Years in power: 26 years +

LOWS: The International Criminal Court wants Omar al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes, murder, rape, torture, and other crimes against humanity for his crimes in Darfur.

4. Sekou Toure (Guinea: 1958-1984)

Ahmed Sékou Touré was elected as the first President of Guinea in 1958, a position he held until to his death in 1984. Toure like many other dictators in Africa, survived several assignation attempts and coups while he was in power, he died of heart failure in 1984.

Years in power: 26 years

LOWS: Toure banned all opposition parties and declared his party the only legal party in the country. Toure ruled Guinea as a ruthless dictator with no tolerance for opposition. He was accused of several cases of human right abuse and extrajudicial killings.

3. General Sani Abacha (Nigeria: 1993-1998)

Sani Abacha became the head of state of Nigeria in 1993 after he sacked the interim president appointed after the annulment of the 1993 elections. The exact details of the dictator’s death in the presidential palace in 1998 remains unclear, but it was met by wide celebration and soon after Nigeria returned to a democratic path.

Years in power: 5 years

HIGHS: Abacha’s regime was a massive economic success for Nigeria. Foreign exchange reserves rose from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the middle of 1997. External debt was reduced from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997; inflation rate went down from the 54% he inherited to 8.5% between 1993 and 1998, and global oil price was priced at an average of $15 per barrel.’

LOWS: General Sani Abacha’s regime was characterized by massive looting and human right abuses such as the public hanging of political activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and jailing several political opponents.

2. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (Libya: 1969-2011)

Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1969. The charismatic leader of Libya and one of the greatest dictators in African history met his end during the Libyan revolution in 2011 after rebels in Sirte, his city of birth, killed him.

Years in power: 42 years

HIGHS: Under Gaddafi, Libya became the first developing country to own a majority share of the revenues from its oil production. Gaddafi provided access to free health care, safe houses, food and clean drinking water, free education to university level which led to the dramatic rise in literacy rates

LOWS: He led oil-rich Libya as an absolute dictator, for close to 42 years, he quashed anyone that opposed him, and was responsible for the death of thousands of his people.

1. Idi Amin Dada (Uganda: 1971-1979)

Idi Amin seized power in the military coup of January 1971, sacking Milton Obote. Idi Amin fled Uganda in the heat of the Uganda-Tanzania war and went into exile in Libya and then Saudi Arabia where he lived until his death on 16 August 2003.

Years in power: 8 years

LOWS: Amin’s rule was characterized by rumors of cannibalism, frightening human rights abuses, political repression, several extrajudicial killings, corruption, and gross economic mismanagement. International observers and human rights groups estimate the death toll of his regime to be around 500,000.

Africa has come a long way, and it continues to overcome setbacks and rewrite its history. These dictators represent the worst moments in post-colonial African history.

SOURCE: https://www.africanvault.com/dictators-in-africa/

Ok

History is misjudging Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the only true African leader.

That Abacha is a lesson in contradiction.


Massive looting yet highest reserves @ $15 per barrel.


Is it our system of governance that is so expensive now or many more hands are now stealing?

lala do your work.

The last king of Scotland

Africa,home of leaders with absolute power and less will power for technological advancements.
I hail thee.



NB:who can help me recite this poem:
Mother Africa, I have long been away from you, wondering like a Fulani cow....

Abacha better pass buhari

Gaddafi was not responsible for d death of his ppl. America, I mean Obama was.

really?

cr7lomo:
Abacha better pass buhari

All of them are product of one religion....

gbugbru:
All of them are product of one religion....

yeah a certain northern sadistic religion that condoles dictatorship and terrorism. we all know the name.

by the way OP I only came to check if you'll include idi amin of Uganda and thus I wasn't disappointed.

Yosuregames:
lala do your work.

sure FP worthy.
cc lalasticlala

StupidYorubaFool:
yeah a certain northern sadistic religion that condoles dictatorship and terrorism. we all know the name.

by the way OP I only came to check if you'll include idi amin of Uganda and thus I wasn't disappointed.

are you saying that my statement is wrong, perhaps you need to browse the titles of Idi amin to see for yourself. He is an Alhaji, Field Marshal..... So am correct

Origin:
That Abacha is a lesson in contradiction.


Massive looting yet highest reserves @ $15 per barrel.


Is it our system of governance that is so expensive now or many more hands are now stealing?

Abacha started looting since the 70s. Remember he was the guy that announced Buharis coup and was Babangidas army chief for a very long time, then was Shonekans army Chief before becoming head of state. I don't think the whole looting happened just during his regime. He looted with Babangida from 1985 to 92, before assuming power in 1993 and selling oil wells too to the likes of Danjuma and co . , making his cut from those.

@ op,

Where are Mobutu, Bokassa, Nguema, Eyadenma?

If Gaddafi was truly a dictator then we need such a dictator in Nigeria & the rest of Africa.

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Op is afraid to put Buhari's name

They are all Muslims. Four already fvckin 77 imaginary virgins....one yet to join them.

Gaddafi isn't that bad.

Mobutu sese seko

Can anybody see what am seeing? something is common to all of them...what's that?

Moslems... they are all Muslim... they follow their prophet...s.a.w.

Abacha and gadafi are/is not that bad..you may not believe me...the worst I have ever seen is Gen Muhammad Buhari.

people still enjoy under them...but look at bubu time...the worst...