Cold War dictatorships Africa thumb|Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire's longtime dictator Many dictatorships formed in Africa, with most forming after countries gained independence during decolonisation. Mobutu Sese Seko ruled the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a dictator for decades, renaming it Zaire. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled Equatorial Guinea as a dictator since he led a military coup in 1979. In 1973, King Sobhuza II of Swaziland suspended the constitution and ruled as an absolute monarch. Samuel Doe established a military dictatorship in Liberia in the 1980s. Libya was ruled by Muammar Gaddafi for several decades following a military coup. Moussa Traoré ruled as a dictator in Mali. Habib Bourguiba ruled as a dictator in Tunisia until he was deposed by a coup led by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 1987, who in turn ruled as a dictator until the Tunisian Revolution in 2011. Robert Mugabe ruled as a dictator in Zimbabwe.
cOld war DiCtatoRShips afriCa thumb|moBUtu Sese sekO, zaiRe'S lOngtIme dIcTaTor MAnY dictatorshiPs fOrmed iN AFRIca, with MOST forMinG aFteR cOUNtrIes gAined iNdePEndEnce durIng decoloNisation. moBUtU sese sekO RULed the democratic REpublic of ThE conGO as a diCtATOr for DecAdes, renaminG IT zaIrE. teodoro obiAng nguemA MBasoGo hAs rUlED eqUaTorial guineA AS a DIctaTor Since he led A miLitary cOUp iN 1979. iN 1973, KiNg sobhUZa Ii of SwazilanD sUsPendEd the conStitution And RUlEd aS an absolute monarcH. SAMueL Doe esTAbLished a militaRy DIcTAtorShiP iN LiberiA in the 1980s. libya WAS ruLed bY muAmMAr gaDDaFI for seVeral decaDes FoLlOWinG A milItARy coup. MOUSSa TrAoré ruLED as a DictAtor in MAli. Habib BOuRGuIba ruled as a DictaToR in tuNiSia untIL he Was depoSed By a cOup led by ZINe el abidIne Ben aLi iN 1987, Who iN turN ruLED as A diCtatOR until the tuNiSiAn RevOlution IN 2011. RobeRT mugabE RulEd as a dicTATOr In zimBAbwe.