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Foreign Policy
Friday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre; Arabic: محمد سياد بري; October 6, 1919 – January 2, 1995) was the President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969–91. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ("Comrade Siad"). The Barre-led military junta that came to power after a coup d'état in 1969 said it would adapt scientific socialism to the needs … [Read more...] about Friday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Thursday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Francisco Macías Nguema (born Mez-m Ngueme; Africanized to Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong) (1 January 1924 – 29 September 1979) was the first President of Equatorial Guinea, from 1968 until his overthrow in 1979. Born as Mez-m Ngueme, Macías Nguema was the son of a witch doctor who allegedly killed his younger brother. He belonged to the country's majority Fang ethnic … [Read more...] about Thursday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Wednesday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (born 5 June 1942) is an Equatoguinean politician who has been President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. He ousted his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup and has overseen Equatorial Guinea's emergence as an important oil producer, beginning in the 1990's. Obiang was Chairperson of the African Union from … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Tuesday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators
Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965) is the president of the Gambia. As a young army officer, he took power in a 1994 military coup. He was elected as President in 1996; he was re-elected in 2001, 2006, and 2011. President Jammeh joined the Gambian National Army in 1984, was commissioned a General in 1989, and in 1992 became Chief commander of the Gambian … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: Africa’s Worst Dictators