The Worst leaders (Dictators) in Africa Today

Most western sources often rate African leaders based solely on statistical figures. The great misconception here is that, "statistics" equate "reality". In the case of Africa, governments in power often falsify statistical figures to give the impression that they (the governments in power) are doing something great. Some western economists and analysts often take those false statistical figures into account which unfortunately distorts the reality.

We, Africans, should be in a better position when it comes to rating our leaders. Why? Because we live with those leaders in Africa and we know what they are capable of doing. We know which statistical figures are true and which figures are false. In this article, let’s forget about the evil dictators (like Idi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, etc.) in the past and rather focus on the present. We will take several sources (Wikileaks, Forbes, Aljazeera, BBC, CNN, etc.,) and above all, “reality” into consideration. Let’s begin with:

OMAR AL BASHIR: 

Omar Al Bashir, the president of Sudan, is without a doubt, one of the worst leaders in Africa today if not the worst of them all. He is a dictator and a war criminal. He was the mastermind behind the Darfur Genocide which resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 people. He has been declared a “Wanted Man” by the International Criminal Court (the ICC) and the entire international community.

Omar Al Bashir has been in power since 1989 and turned 72 this year (2016). He is a brutal dictator and eliminates all oppositions in the dark. All peace-loving and social justice-conscious people on this planet will agree with me that Omar Al Bashir deserves at least the death penalty for all the crimes he's committed.

** Update (4/11/2019):  Ousted. Arrested.

TEODORO OBIANG MBASOGO:

The story of Equatorial Guinea is in fact a very sad one. It is a story that clearly shows how statistical figures can be so deceptive in the case of Africa. It is also a story that clearly shows how one demon can destroy an entire country. Equatorial Guinea is a tiny country (less than 2 million people) by population size yet one of the most oil-rich countries in Africa today. Statistically speaking, Equatorial Guinea is one of the richest countries in Africa with a GDP per capita income of over $21,000.

In reality however, Equatorial Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in Africa today with over 70% of its population living below the international poverty line. Equatorial Guinea has one of the highest under-5 mortality rates in the world today with over 20% of its children dying before the age of 5. There is poor education, poor infrastructure, poor healthcare, poor everything all because of the actions of one greedy man and his crazy son.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the president of Equatorial Guinea, is Africa’s longest serving ruler. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea since August 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in a bloody coup d’état. Teodoro Obiang and his crazy Son, Teodorin Obiang (who is in line to succeed his father), are some of the worst people you’ll ever come across in Africa. They continue to live in luxury with 100s of foreign bank accounts, prostitutes and properties all over the world while their poor countrymen continue to wallow in extreme poverty and hunger.

Teodoro Obiang is a brutal dictator and I think he and his crazy son Teodorin deserve at least life imprisonment with hard labor for all the crimes they've committed.

** Update:  N/A

JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS: 

Eduardo Dos Santos, the president of Angola, is without a doubt one of the worst leaders in Africa today. Just like Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, Eduardo Dos Santos has been in power since 1979 and has turned the whole of Angola into his private property. Angola is the second-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the world’s fourth largest producer of rough diamonds. In other words, Angola is one of the richest countries in Africa today in terms of natural resources.

The sad reality however is that, over 70% of Angola’s population lives below the international poverty line with several people living in extreme poverty and hunger all because of the actions of Eduardo Dos Santos, the demon of Angola. There is poverty, hunger, poor education, poor healthcare, etc. in Angola today. Meanwhile, Isabel Dos Santos, the first daughter of  Eduardo Dos Santos, has miraculously become the richest woman in Africa today with a net worth of over 3.5 billion US dollars.

Every struggling Angolan will agree with me that Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and his family deserve at least life imprisonment with hard labor for all the financial and social crimes they've committed.

** Update (8/8/2022):  Stepped down. Passed away.

ROBERT MUGABE: 

When it comes to the story of Robert Mugabe, most of us will agree with the western media that he is one of the worst leaders in Africa today. Robert Mugabe is perhaps the biggest failure in Africa today. Why then do some people consider him a "hero"? They consider him a hero because he fought against "white domination" in Zimbabwe decades ago.

However, some of us fail to see the bigger picture. Here is an example. Zimbabwe was once referred to as the "breadbasket of Africa", a title it rightfully deserved. Zimbabwe was a gold standard and a beacon of hope when it came to food production in Africa. It is also true that Zimbabwe's racially-charged environment strongly favored the white settlers. However, let's not forget the fact that some of those white settlers in Zimbabwe were very great farmers.

In his wisdom, Mugabe thought the white farmers were the problem and took away huge hectares of land and farms from those white farmers. Sadly however, Mugabe failed to put the land into good use. Mugabe instead gave those fertile agricultural lands to his immediate friends and relatives who failed to cultivate those fertile and resourceful agricultural lands while the poor white farmer had no land at all to farm on.

Robert Mugabe has been in power for almost 4 decades now but what additional things has he been able to do for Zimbabwe his "beloved" country besides "freedom fighting"? Nothing good. Zimbabwe is now one of the poorest countries in the world with the worst inflation ever. At 92 (as of 2016), Robert Mugabe continues to cling on to power. Robert Mugabe may be too old for jail but he is never too old to step down and die in peace.

** Update (9/6/2019):  Ousted. Passed away.

IDRISS DEBY: 

Chad ranks one of the most corrupt nations in the world today and the man in charge of the Chadian government, Idriss Deby, is one crazy human being. Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, has been in power since December, 1990, brutalizing all oppositions. Idriss Deby is a complete lunatic who loves war more than anything else.

Idriss Deby uses the little resources and Chad's oil proceeds (that could have helped improve the living conditions of the average Chadian people) to buy weapons and more weapons. All he cares about is the army and war. Chad remains a war-torn country and without a doubt, one of the poorest countries in the world today with extreme poverty, hunger, poor education, poor healthcare, poor infrastructure, etc.

Most justice-conscious people in the world today will agree with me that Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, deserves at least the death penalty for all the crimes he's committed.

** Update (4/20/2021):  Passed away.

PAUL BIYA:

Paul Biya of Cameroon is one of the most dangerous dictators in Africa today. Unlike the other dictators mentioned, Paul Biya doesn't play dirty in public and because of that, the international community doesn't rank him among the worst. Paul Biya assumed office on November 6, 1982. Yes, almost four decades ago. He has systematically consolidated power to a point where no opposition has a chance.

To the outside world, Cameroon is "democratic" but to the average Cameroonian, there is nothing like democracy in Cameroon. Paul Biya eliminates his enemies in the dark and makes life hell for even the ones he "forgives". He sometimes organize mock elections to give the impression that he is democratic. He is one of the most corrupt leaders in Africa today and continues to systematically play on the intelligence of his fellow countrymen and the international community. He is 84 now (as of Jan. 2018) but not ready to let go. Paul Biya wants to die a president because to him, Cameroon is his and his alone.

** Update:  N/A

YOWERI MUSEVENI:

Yoweri Museveni may appear funny and jovial because of his weird collection of hats and suits but don't be fooled by his appearance because this "clown" has been ruling Uganda with iron fist since 1986. Just like Paul Biya of Cameroon, most of his current countrymen were not even born yet, and he is the only president they've ever known.

Museveni assumed office on January 29, 1986 and has remained president ever since. Nobody dares question Museveni. Why? Because, he is a "freedom fighter" and has bought and paid for Uganda. In other words, Uganda is his family property. He has systematically consolidated power and eliminates oppositions along the way.

The constitution of Uganda is Museveni's childhood playbook. He continues to write and modify the constitution at will so as to remain in power forever. He is 77 years old (as of Jan. 2022) and not ready to let go. 

** Update:  N/A

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

1. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

2. Mahamat Deby, Incumbent president of Chad.

3. Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of Djibouti.

4. Isaias Afwerki, president of Eritrea.

5. Mswati III, king of Swaziland.

6. Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon. - ** 8/30/2023:  Ousted.

7. Faure Gnassingbe, president of Togo.

TO BE CONTINUED.