1. Bashar al-Assad, 1965-present (Syria)

Image Source

Bashar al-Assad assumed office in July, 2000 after the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad who seized power in 1970 and went on to rule for 30 years. Prior to this, Bashar was an Ophthalmologist (a specialisation that has to do with the eye), and was said to be shy. How he went from being a reserved doctor to a murdering dictator is anyone’s guess.
Initially, hopes were high that positive reforms would be carried out, leading to a reborn Syria.
In 2013, Assad’s military launched a nerve gas attack in the suburbs of Damascus that ensured hundreds of people lost their lives.
His military has also regularly made use of barrel bombs. These bombs are packed with shrapnel and explosives. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said in a report that the Syrian regime helicopters dropped nearly 13,000 barrel bombs in 2016, killing hundreds of civilians-children included.
The civil war, which start in March 2011 has left 9 million Syrians displaced-almost half of the countries pre-war population, according to Amnesty International.
Conditions are horrible, for those that remain in the country.
Over 400,000 people have lost their lives, since civil war broke out.
In 2016, Bashar was found guilty of ‘inhuman’ crimes, gruesome torture and deaths.
The civil war continues till this day.

2.Kim Jong Un (North Korea c. 1982-present)

Image Source

Kim Jong Un was born on January 8, 1982, 1983 or 1984.
When Kim Jon Il died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011, Kim inherited the worlds fourth –largest military, and had absolute control over North Korea.
He was actually the second son, and was chosen ahead of his brother, Kim Jong Chol, who their father saw as being weak.
Kim was said to be a decent basketball player, during his time schooling in Switzerland, and idolized Michael Jordan.
Despite the fact that Kim had little military experience, he was promoted rapidly, seeing his father faced an uncertain future at the time.
On December 12, 2013, Kim had his uncle, Jang Sung Taek and his family executed, citing reason of him trying to overthrow his government, although the North Korean ambassador to the UK claimed his family was unhurt.
North Korea continues to test ballistic missiles and nuclear devices under his rule,
In February, 2017, Kim’s half-brother, Kim Jong Nam was poisoned in an airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which led to his death.
There was suspicion of the involvement of Kim’s government.
Reports from the press show that human rights violations occur under his leadership. Reports of purges and executions are also difficult to verify, but it is definitely clear that such things occur from time to time.
From executing an ex-girlfriend to killing a deputy of defense with mortars, he seems to be obsessed with retaining power at all cost.
Oh, he has also had people executed for crimes, such as ‘slouching and drinking.’

3.Kim Jong-il (North Korea 1941-2011)

Image Source

Kim Jong-il was born on February 16, 1941 in Russia. He was the supreme leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He was the son of Kim Il-sung, and also the father of Kim Jong Un.
Before ascending to power, Kim Jong-Il aspired to be a film producer. As the heir apparent to his father, he orchestrated the kidnapping of a movie director, Shin Sang-ok and his wife, who was an actress. They were a power couple of the movie industry in South Korea.
They were imprisoned for four years, before being released and given the task by Kim, to revive the movie industry in South Korea. This they did (they made six movies), until they managed to escape when they were sent to a European film festival.
Between 1995 and 2000, the people of North Korea suffered a deadly famine, and it is estimated that anywhere from 600,000 to 2 million North Koreans lost their lives.
In 1983, he tried to assassinate the President of South Korea, Chun Doo Hwan, who didn’t lose his life, because he was running late. He also had his agents plant bombs on a Korean Air flight, killing 115 people, in order to deter people from attending the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
It was also normal for people to be sent to jail, because of purported crimes, their parents committed.
He was the definition of a human right violator, in its purest form.
He will be remembered as the brutal overseer of massive and systematic oppression that included a willingness to let his people starve.
Thankfully, he suffered a heart attack in 2011, and his son-who we can’t say is an angel, took over.

4. Muammar Mohammed Gaddafi, c. 1942-2011 (Libya)

Image Source

Muammar Mohammed Gaddafi was born in Sirte, Libya, sometime around 1942. He seized power in 1969 while King Idris was abroad in Turkey, receiving medical treatment. He ruled as an authoritarian dictator for more than 40years, before being overthrown in 2011.
In 1970, he expelled the remaining Italians from Libya.
He was vocal, in his opposition of Zionism and Israel, thus expelling the Jewish community from Libya.
His government was implicated in the financing of many anti-Western groups around the world. They were implicated in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.
A plane carrying 259 passengers blew up near Lockerbie, Scotland. There were no survivors, and an additional 11 people on the ground were killed by falling debris.
Libyan terrorists were also believed to be behind the destruction of a French passenger jet in 1989 that killed all 170 people aboard.
During widespread protests in 2011, gaddafi used aggressive force to try to suppress the people. He had mercenaries and and policeshoot at protesters; helicopters were also sent to bombard citizens from the air.
When Tripoli fell to rebel forces in August of 2011, it was seen as a major victory for the opposition, and the beginning of the end of Gaddafi’s rule.
It should also be noted that Libya has been embroiled in one crisis after the other, since his death in 2011.

5. Saddam Hussein, 1979-2006 (Iraq)

Image Source

Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. He was a bloody and brutal dictator who kept his country, Iraq at war almost constantly after assuming power in 1979.
He exterminated his people, committed ethnic and sectarian genocide, and also used chemical weapons on citizens. In 1990, Saddam invaded Kuwait with the intention of looting and annexing the oil-rich country. An international coalition was put together by then President George Bush Snr, and Kuwait was freed. Howbeit, he wasn’t removed from power, which was done thirteen years later, by President George Bush Jnr. It is estimated that at least, one million people died due to the vices of Saddam.

All Images Gotten From Wikimedia Commons

Love my posts?

I'll be very glad if you...

Seems to be a thing on this side of the universe. :)

If you also have anything you would like me to write about? Drop some lines in the comments section below.

PROUD ASAPER