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The Craziest Dictator You’ve Never Heard of | Jean-Bédel Bokassa

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Craziest Dictator

In this video, we take a look at Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the self-titled “Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, The Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa”.

How did Bokassa maintain control in the Central African Republic during his reign?

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was one of the most notorious and controversial dictators of the 20th century. Born in 1921 in what is now Central African Republic, Bokassa became known as the “Emperor” of his country after he declared himself the supreme ruler in 1976.

Bokassa was no stranger to violence and political instability. He had been a colonial soldier during World War II and had risen through the ranks to become the country’s military commander. In 1966, he orchestrated a coup against the country’s first president, David Dacko, and established himself as the leader of the Central African Republic.

For the next decade, Bokassa ruled with an iron fist. He silenced critics, used violence to maintain control and was accused of numerous human rights abuses. His regime was known for its extravagance and brutality; he reportedly spent millions on personal luxuries while his people lived in poverty.

But it was Bokassa’s actions in the late 1970s that would cement his place in history as one of the craziest dictators to ever live. In 1977, he declared himself the “Emperor” of the Central African Empire and threw a coronation ceremony that cost an estimated $20 million – a staggering amount for a country with a GDP of less than $200 million at the time.

Bokassa drew comparisons to Napoleon Bonaparte, and styled himself after the French emperor – complete with a gold-plated throne, a crown, and a lavish palace. He also replaced the national flag with one featuring his own portrait and completely reorganized the country’s military structure to suit his imperial ambitions.

Bokassa’s rule as Emperor was short-lived, however. International outrage over his blatant disregard for human rights and the waste of government funds reached a fever pitch, and France – the country’s former colonial ruler – intervened militarily to oust him from power in 1979.

Bokassa spent several years in prison before being freed in 1993, but he never regained his former glory. He died in 1996, still insisting that he was a misunderstood leader who had been smeared by malicious rumors.

Today, Jean-Bédel Bokassa is largely forgotten by the world, but his legacy lives on in the Central African Republic – a country that still grapples with poverty, violence, and political instability. His reign as Emperor may have been short-lived, but the damage he inflicted on his country and his people will be felt for generations to come.