Idi Amin joined the newly independent Ugandan army in 1962, took over the armed forces in 1966 and seized presidential power in a military coup in 1971. During Amin's eight-year rule, an estimated 500,000 people disappeared or were killed. When Tanzanian troops and Ugandan dissidents stormed his palace in 1979, Amin fled to Saudi Arabia, where he died in 2003.
Fallen dictators —
Idi Amin joined the newly independent Ugandan army in 1962, took over the armed forces in 1966 and seized presidential power in a military coup in 1971. During Amin's eight-year rule, an estimated 500,000 people disappeared or were killed. When Tanzanian troops and Ugandan dissidents stormed his palace in 1979, Amin fled to Saudi Arabia, where he died in 2003.
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Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier became Haiti's "president for life" when his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, died in 1971. After Baby Doc's rule ended in 1986, he spent 25 years in lavish exile in France. Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti in 2011 and will face trial on corruption charges.
Fallen dictators —
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier became Haiti's "president for life" when his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, died in 1971. After Baby Doc's rule ended in 1986, he spent 25 years in lavish exile in France. Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti in 2011 and will face trial on corruption charges.
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The 1979 ousting of King Mohammed Reza Pahlavi led to the modern Islamic Republic of Iran. During 38 years of rule, the shah's dictatorship and alignment with Western countries angered religious leaders such as the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini, who led a revolution to depose the shah. The cancer-stricken shah fled Iran in 1979, becoming a nomad before dying in Egypt in 1980.
Fallen dictators —
The 1979 ousting of King Mohammed Reza Pahlavi led to the modern Islamic Republic of Iran. During 38 years of rule, the shah's dictatorship and alignment with Western countries angered religious leaders such as the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini, who led a revolution to depose the shah. The cancer-stricken shah fled Iran in 1979, becoming a nomad before dying in Egypt in 1980.
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Soon after the Arab Spring movement began in January 2011, in Tunisia, President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, who had ruled since 1987, became the first of several long-presiding dictators in the region to abdicate his office. Ben Ali has lived in exile in Saudi Arabia since then, and he faces a potential death sentence if he returns home.
Fallen dictators —
Soon after the Arab Spring movement began in January 2011, in Tunisia, President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, who had ruled since 1987, became the first of several long-presiding dictators in the region to abdicate his office. Ben Ali has lived in exile in Saudi Arabia since then, and he faces a potential death sentence if he returns home.
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The father of Congolese President Joseph Kabila led a revolution against long-time strongman Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, when the central African nation was known as Zaire. Mobutu had ruled Zaire for 32 years. He fled first to Togo, and then to Morocco, during the Laurent Kabila-led uprising. In failing health, Mobutu died just months after Morocco granted him asylum.
Fallen dictators —
The father of Congolese President Joseph Kabila led a revolution against long-time strongman Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, when the central African nation was known as Zaire. Mobutu had ruled Zaire for 32 years. He fled first to Togo, and then to Morocco, during the Laurent Kabila-led uprising. In failing health, Mobutu died just months after Morocco granted him asylum.
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Anastasio Somoza Debayle was the third member of his family to rule Nicaragua, after his brother and his father, who led a 1936 military coup. From his installation in 1967 to his ouster in 1979, the younger Somoza pitched an ongoing battle against leftist Sandinista rebels. He fled to Miami, then to Paraguay, where a rocket-propelled grenade struck his limousine, killing him, in 1980.
Fallen dictators —
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was the third member of his family to rule Nicaragua, after his brother and his father, who led a 1936 military coup. From his installation in 1967 to his ouster in 1979, the younger Somoza pitched an ongoing battle against leftist Sandinista rebels. He fled to Miami, then to Paraguay, where a rocket-propelled grenade struck his limousine, killing him, in 1980.
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