World’s Worst National Leaders

Robert Mugabe

    Country: Zimbabwe

    Age: 85

    In power since: 1980

    Highlights: Forcibly seized land from white farmers in 1980’s and distributed it among his closest relatives and associates. Country has a staggering 85 percent unemployment rate while Mugabe uses much of the country’s vast natural resources for personal wealth. Supporters have beaten and killed thousands of opposition members.

Omar al-Bashir

    Country: Sudan

    Age: 65

    In power since: 1989

    Highlights: Has waged a vicious military campaign in Darfur, over 300,000 killed. Ethnic and religious minorities persecuted. Has international arrest warrant on him.

Kim Jong-il

     Country: North Korea

     Age: 67

     In power since: 1994

     Highlights: Tolerates no opposition. Criticism can mean time in prison labor camps not just for the offender but the offender’s entire family as well. He indulges in personal pleasure and wealth and freedom forbidden to the rest of the population. He has spent millions on military upgrades while the most of the population lives in poverty and on food rations and has to rely on international humanitarian aid.

Than Shwe

    Country: Myanmar

    Age: 76

    In power since: 1992

    Highlights: Violently suppressed demonstrations by Buddhist monks last year, dozens killed. Continues of hold democratic activist and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung Jun Suu Kyi under house arrest as well as other members of political opposition.

King Abdullah

    Country: Saudi Arabia

    Age: 85

    In power since: 1995

    Highlights: Women’s rights are virtually non-existent. Severely harsh punishment for even the smallest crimes. No religion other than Islam is allowed in the Kingdom.

Alexander Lukashenko

    Country: Belarus

    Age: 54

    In power since: 1994

    Highlights: Is known as “Europe’s Last Dictator”. Regularly jails political opponents. Media is controlled by the government. He has rigged elections in effort to remain in power.

Sayyid Ali Khameinei

    Country: Iran

    Age: 69

    In power since: 1989

    Highlights: Jails political opponents without trial indefinitely. Tight control over the media. Restricts women’s rights. Boys as young as 12 can be forced into military.

Isayas Afewerki

    Country: Eritrea

    Age: 63

    In power since: 1991

    Highlights: Media strictly controlled by the government. Political opposition not allowed.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov

    Country: Turkmenistan

    Age: 51

    In power since: 2006

    Highlights: Regularly jails political opponents. Allows no opposition parties. Media controlled by the government. Practice of religion restricted.

Muammar al-Qaddafi

       Country: Libya

       Age: 66

       In power since: 1969

       Highlights: Jails political opponents. Torture is common. Ethnic and religious minorities persecuted. Media is heavily monitored by the government.