Jackson(Dictators)

5 WORST DICTATORS

1) Isaias Afewerki, 65, once led Eritrea to independence, but today he deprives his citizens of all freedoms. There is no formal constitution, and every male starting at age 18 must enter “national service,” which is forced labor of indeﬁnite length (evaders are jailed or killed). People with unsanctioned religious beliefs are imprisoned and tortured, as are journalists and activists. More than 50,000 Eritreans escaped to refugee camps in Ethiopia. Western ofﬁcials allege that Afewerki is aiding Al Qaeda–linked militants in Somalia.



2) Although Omar al-Bashir, 67, took power in a bloodless coup, his reign has been marked by extreme violence. Some progress occurred in 2011—the country was successfully partitionednto two entities, Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan—but the strife continues. In regions under dispute with South Sudan, al- Bashir’s military has bombed civilians, killing untold numbers and causing at least 100,000 to ﬂee. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged al-Bashir with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 have been killed since 2003. The ICC also alleges that he has embezzled billions of dollars.



3) Raised in an orphanage, Islam Karimov, 73, through Communist Party ranks to control this former Soviet republic. Activists, journalists, and anyone practicing a religion other than the accepted form of Islam are often jailed, and about 7,000 prisoners are currently being held and tortured. Each fall, university students, teachers, civil servants, and children as young as 9 are forced to live in barracks and harvest cotton under in humane conditions. Karimov’s health is thought to be poor, and some believe his eldest daughter is being groomed to rule.



4) Bashar al-Assad, 46, a trained ophthalmologist, succeeded his father as Syria’s tyrant in chief. As part of the Arab Spring, Syrians began revolting in March, and he responded by ordering the military to bomb and ﬁ re on crowds. Over 3,500 demonstrators (including more than 250 children) have been killed, with over 10,000 jailed or missing at press time. The U.S. and Europe have condemned Assad’s actions, imposing sanctions and calling for his resignation. In an unprecedented move, the Arab League placed economic and political sanctions of its own on member nation Syria after Assad refused to end attacks and to let in monitors.



5) U Thein Sein Since seizing power in a coup nearly 50 years ago, a succession of juntas made up of present and former high-ranking military officials have brutally mismanaged this country and its economy, with its 55 million inhabitants living in starvation. Ethnic minorities continue to suffer—beatings, rapes, bombings, even murder—at the hands of the authorities. But recently the leaders of the Asian nation seem to be taking tiny steps in the right direction. Last year, they held elections, which, although neither free nor fair, resulted in retired General U Thein Sein becoming president and iron-fisted dictator Than Shwe stepping down. (Some observers believe that Than Shwe still wields considerable influence behind the scenes).

[|Source 1] [|Source 2] [|Source 3]