10 Most Evil and Hated Dictators of All Time
Some people make horrible decisions, others are just bad
presidents, a few are bloodthirsty, many are extremists, a couple are
warmongers, and all of these guys are a mix. Ten of our political leaders in
the last 130 years have been the architects of the most horrific genocides,
systematic murders, blockades, brutal wars, and policy reforms history has ever
recorded.
Where to begin? Maybe an icebreaker for you next dinner party?
Did you know the word “genocide” was coined in 1943 to describe when the
Armenians were slaughtered haphazardly by Turkish leader Ismail Enver? Until
then there was no specific word for it in our language. It makes me think about
how much more cognizant we’ve become in this last century to these events. So,
a quick toast between you and I to a more peaceable future where less of what
follows below is allowed to happen. Sit back, but don’t relax.
10. Yakubu Gowon (1.1 million deaths)
Breakdown: 1 million civilians on the wrong side of a blockade
caused by a war of secession in Nigeria and 100,000 soldiers who died in that
war.
It starts as many sad stories do with precious beautiful oil.
It had been found in the Niger delta where tensions were already high between
the Eastern region (led by Ojukwu) and the rest of the country (governed by
Yakubu). A dummy agreement was signed between them called the “Aburi Accord”,
but it meant nothing to either leader. Yakubu started to put pressure on the
region, and tested how much sway he had in the area versus Ojukwu. Well Ojukwu
being no slouch declared secession from the rest of Nigeria and became the
“Republic of Biafra”. This began a war that caused the deaths of 100,000
soldiers, and much worse, a blockade on the region which starved 1 million
civilians.
9. Mengistu Haile Mariam (400,000 –
1.5 million deaths)
Breakdown: As president of Ethiopia and colonel of “the Derg”
(communist militia) Mengitsu systematically killed those against him in the
“Red Terror” campaign.
Mengistu Haile Mariam is (as in
still alive) a politician who presided over Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991. The way
he got into power was by smothering the previous president Haile Selassie
although he has denied those rumors. His biggest claim to fame is the Ethiopian Red Terror which
was a campaign of repression led by the Derg (communist militia in Ethiopia).
In his introductory speech Mengitsu yelled, “Death to
counterrevolutionaries! Death to the EPRP!” Then he took three bottles filled
with blood and threw them to the ground.
It was an auspicious beginning to say the least. Thousands were
killed and found dead on the streets in the years that followed. Much of the
murdering can be attributed to the friendly neighborhood watch there known as
“Kebeles”. As if killing innocents wasn’t enough they would then charge the
family a tax to return the dead body to them. The tax was aptly named “the
wasted bullet”! Are you serious Mengitsu? However there was an even more
gruesome fate of being left on the street where wild hyenas would fight over
the dead. The campaign has been described as one of the worst mass murders ever
in Africa. Mengitsu is even known to have garroted
people to death.
8. Kim Il Sung (1.6 million deaths)
Breakdown: Unpopular among his people Kim used the U.S. as a
scapegoat and forced the country to believe in his delusion or else.
