10 Most BRUTAL And INSANE Dictatorships In World History

Welcome to WatchMojo, where well be discussing the most bizarre and brutal authoritarian regimes to ever exist.

The Third Dominican Republic

Despite what its name implies, Dominica was dominated by dictator Rafael Trujillo for over 40 years. Like a lot of dictators, he had a major god complex. His slogan was God in Heaven, Trujillo on Earth. Legally, citizens were required to have phrases like Viva Trujillo on their license plates. He once made his 16-year-old daughter queen - albeit for a worlds fair - alongside his 14-year-old son an actual colonel. Additionally, the dictator tried to get his illiterate wife awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature, which failed. Trujillo was, of course, extremely brutal, once massacring thousands of Haitians in 1937. Eventually, he was assassinated in 1961 after being ambushed in his car.

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Gaddafi took charge of Libya in 1969, and his rule didnt end until 2011. Unlike a lot of dictators, he didnt declare himself the supreme leader. Instead, he used the title Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution. He claimed the system was a direct democracy ruled by the people, free from political parties. Most of his critics disagreed. Gaddafi called himself the emancipator of women and was protected by his Revolutionary Nuns, a chaste group of all-women bodyguards. The dictator also loved Botox, snakeskin boots, and fancy sunglasses. Human rights violations eventually motivated a rebellion in 2011, which resulted in Gaddafis death by rebels in Sirte.

The Second Republic of Uganda

In 1971, Idi Amin seized power over Uganda after a successful coup. His rule was one of the most brutal in history. A year in, he expelled all Asians from Uganda, which caused a huge backlash globally. The motivation behind this was a dream where God supposedly told him to do it. Amin claimed to be the King of Scotland, but simultaneously sent Queen Elizabeth II bizarre letters. After Britain severed ties with Uganda in 1977, he gave himself the title Conqueror of the British Empire. Amin was deposed in 1979 by both rebels and the Tanzanian military, after he failed to invade a Tanzanian province.

Haiti

François Duvalier ruled Haiti with an iron fist for 14 years, starting in 1957. Like a lot of dictators, he was extremely paranoid. In 1959, he gave power to Clément Barbot temporarily after falling ill. After recovering, Barbot was imprisoned for apparently trying to seize power. It wasnt true until after he left prison, but his plot failed. Duvalier claimed Barbot had turned into a black dog, then had all Haitian black dogs murdered. Barbot was found and killed, still in his human form. Duvalier was a big fan of voodoo, claiming it was how he had JFK shot. In the end, he was never brought to justice, dying of natural causes in 1971.

The Republic of Zaire

Before it was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was the authoritarian Republic of Zaire. Between 1971 and 1997, their sole president was Mobutu Sese Seko. One of his wildest rules was to ban the media from mentioning anyone by name except himself. Additionally, the nightly newscast was forced to start with a clip of him descending from the heavens. Another policy was forcing everyone to adopt an African name. If a priest baptized a child with a European name, they risked 5 years in prison. No one could challenge him, as he executed all his opponents. Finally a rebellion in 1997 forced him into exile, where he soon perished.

Equatorial Guinea

One of the most detestable despots in history was Francisco Macías Nguema, who controlled Equatorial Guinea between 1968 and 1979. Nguemas behavior was so wild that people thought he was literally insane. One Christmas Eve, he had 186 of his opponents executed on a football field to the tune of Those Were The Days. Wearing glasses was enough to get a death sentence under his rule. Both the word intellectual and fishing were also banned. In 1979, he was overthrown by his nephew. Nguema tried to flee, burning roughly $100 million in the process. His subsequent trial sentenced him to death 101 times. Equatoguinean soldiers wouldnt kill him, as they were worried his ghost would haunt them, so Moroccan soldiers had to do it.

The Gambia

Africas smallest country suffered for over 20 years, on account of an exceptionally evil man taking control. Yahya Jammeh rose to power in 1996, and didnt lose it until 2017. Jammeh was a strong advocate for herbal medicine, believing it could cure HIV/AIDs. Of course, it didnt work, therefore increasing the spread of the illness. Jammeh frequently targeted journalists, saying they should be buried six feet deep for criticizing him. After he believed his aunt died of witchcraft, he abducted 1,000 Gambians suspected of witchcraft. Since 2017, hes lived in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

The Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled by Kim Il Sung, their eternal president. Even though he died in 1994, hes still officially their president, making them the only necrocracy in the world. Their current living ruler is his villainous grandson, Kim Jong Un, who is considered by many to be one of the worst criminals alive. He rules with an iron fist, with harsh punishments for stepping out of line. Its virtually impossible to escape, with there being fewer than 100 defectors annually since 2021. Tourism is allowed, but its heavily controlled, and all the money spent goes towards upholding a despicable regime.

The Central African Empire

In 1976, Jean-Bédel Bokassa made himself Emperor of the Central African Republic, turning it into an empire. He was a man heavily inspired by Napoleon. For his coronation, he wanted the Pope present, so Bokassa could take the crown from him, making himself emperor in the same way Napoleon did. The Pope never appeared, however. Bokassa also is said to have had a taste for human flesh, which he supposedly served to foreign ambassadors. In 1979, a coup forced him to relinquish power. He spent 7 years in exile in the Ivory Coast and later France. In 1986, Bokassa returned and was immediately arrested, then tried. He was spared the death penalty, getting imprisoned until 1993, then died 3 years later.

Turkmenistan

This Central Asian nation came under the rule of Saparmurat Niyazov in 1985, who turned it into a horrific and strange dictatorship. For example, you were not allowed long hair or a beard until the age of 70. The president made it almost a requirement to read his book. To get a government position or a drivers licence, you had to pass a test on it. To help him quit smoking in 1997, he banned everyone else from doing it in public. Dogs werent allowed in the capital, and all hospitals outside of it were also banned. Since his death in 2006, the country has had two more dictators. Theyre slightly more relaxed, but still incredibly oppressive.

Were there any particularly wild regimes we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments section!