Throughout the history of mankind, dictators have continually plagued and terrorized their peoples. In this list, we take a closer look at 8 of those dictators.
Some of them are already deceased. Others are still out there.
Here are some wacky facts you probably weren’t expecting about the world’s most powerful dictators.
1. Kim Jong-il
If you’ve seen the movie “The Interview,” then you already know a little about Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un. Well, the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Jong-il, who passed away in 2011, was a master propagandist. According to the North Korean press, Jong-il was beloved by people all over the world. The press also testified that he was the greatest golfer in the world, and he even invented the hamburger.
2. Fidel Castro
In 2008, Castro stepped down from leading Cuba, following 49 years in power (the equivalent time-span of 10 U.S. Presidencies). Until 1985, he served as the brand ambassador for Havana cigars (championing the rebel attitude associated with the product). In 1966, at the peak of the Cold War, Fidel went head-to-head with Brooklyn-born chess champion Bobby Fischer at a Havana-based tournament.
3. Muammar Gaddafi
Before being violently overthrown in 2011, Gaddafi led a very rich and colorful life. Not many know that he was a secret admirer of Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State in the Bush Jr. Administration. When Condoleeza visited Gaddafi on a trip to Tripoli, he lavished her with $212,000 worth of gifts, and presented her with a locket containing his photo.
4. Bashar al-Assad
Despite the uprising against him which began in March 2011, Assad is still commander-in-chief of Syria’s armed forces. Little known is Assad’s social media strategy over the course of the armed conflict. The leader has gained 34,000 followers on his Instagram Account. Assad has also frequently targeted Facebook and Youtube users promoting the rebellion, and censored the websites in his home country to the best of his ability.
5. Kim Jong-un
Born in 1983, Kim Jong-un was named Supreme Leader of North Korea at the age of 28, becoming the world’s youngest head-of-state. He attended primary school in Europe, at Liebefeld Steinhölzli school in Switzerland. As a young man, he loved both Jackie Chan movies, and watching Basketball. Friends recalled: “[he] spent hours doing meticulous pencil drawings of Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.”
6. Saparmurat Niyazov
Holding the title of “President for Life of Turkmenistan,” Niyazov ruled the country from 1990 to 2006. This dictator is well known for naming months after himself. He also renamed bread after his mother. Regarding his impact on the arts, he banned gold teeth, lip synching, and make-up for public concerts.
7. Mobutu Sese Seko
In an attempt to remain original, this Central African leader banned leopard-print hats (other than his own), soon after taking power. Until Seko’s death in 1997, residents of Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) were forced to watch a scene of the leader descending from the heavens every night before watching the evening news.
8. Saddam Hussein
In 1980, seeking to win American favor, Saddam gave a sizable donation to a church in Detroit. To show their appreciation, Saddam was awarded the key to the city. In the late 1990′s, Saddam ordered to have a Quran written in his own blood. To this date, religious leaders are divided regarding what should be done with it.
