Omar Al Bashir (Sudan)

Assumed office: 1989

Years in power: 20

Political affiliation: National Congress Party

Rapsheet/Allegations: Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder, torture, sponsor of terrorism

One of the most wanted men in the world, Omar al Bashir presided over the Second Sudanese Civil War as well as the current Darfur atrocities. He became the first sitting president to be indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Genocide charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.

The Darfur conflict remains one of the bloodiest, with reports claiming that the death toll has reached between 200 000 and 400 000 lives. It is alleged that the Sudanese government has been executing and jailing witnesses in an attempt to suppress information.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema (Equatorial Guinea)

Assumed office: 1979

Years in power: 30

Political affiliation: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (DPGE)

Rapsheet/Allegations: murder, election fraud, torture, corruption, and money laundering

I bet you didn't know that: A state-owned radio station declared Nguema to be a god, who "can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to hell".

Deposing Francisco Macias in 1979 in a bloody coup, Nguema seized power and promptly condemned the despot Macias to death. Nguema is seen as a milder ruler in comparison to Macias, who went so far as to ban the use of the word "intellectual" and destroyed boats due to a ban on fishing.

Nguema's rule has been marked by allegations of fraudulent elections in 1996 and 2002; a constitution that allows him to rule by decree; a lack of free press and full control of the national treasury. Nguema is estimated to have a net worth of $600-million according to Forbes. Ninety percent of the opposition stays out of the country thanks to the oppressive regime. A ruthless leader, Nguema allows rumours that he is a cannibal to circulate.

Paul Biya (Cameroon)

Assumed office: 6 November 1982

Years in power: 27 years

Political affiliation: RDPC

Rapsheet/Allegations: Election fraud, bribery

I bet you didn't know that: Paul Biya spends more time in Switzerland than outside his Cameroonian palace.

Paul Biya became the president of Cameroon as a result of a law which states that the Prime Minister will become the successor to the current leader, which was Ahmadou Ahidjo. The relationship between the two suffered during the first few years of Biya's presidency, with Ahidjo criticising Biya while in exile in France.

Ahidjo and two others were put on trial in absentia for allegedly being involved in a coup plot, and were sentenced to death, although this was later changed to life imprisonment.

Biya won elections in 1992, 1997 and 2004, though allegations of fraud plagued two of them and the opposition boycotted elections in 1997. After the 2004 election, Biya sought to remove term limits, claiming that it was not democratic to limit the population's choice. Historian Dave Wallechinsky alleges that Biya paid six ex-US congressmen to be his own international observers in the 2004 elections.

Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)

Assumed office: 14 October 1981

Years in power: 28 years

Political affiliation: National Democratic Party

Rapsheet/Allegations: Vote rigging, bribery, corruption, torture

I bet you didn't know that: Hosni Mubarak chose to participate in the 1991 Gulf War without hesitation, and as a result, Egypt had $20-billion worth of debt written off by the USA, Europe and the Middle East.

Hosni Mubarak ascended to the office of the presidency in 1981 after President Sadat was assassinated. A moderate leader with the backing of the West, Mubarak has his share of controversy. Referendums on whether he should remain as leader have been seen as highly suspect. Additionally, the 2005 elections were seen by some observers as being rigged. Mubarak's son Alaa was also favoured in numerous government tenders and contracts.

Mubarak has come under fire for extending the Emergency Law of Egypt, which has been in effect since Sadat's assassination, allowing for detentions without trial.

Idriss Deby (Chad)

Assumed office: 2 December 1990

Years in power: 19 years

Political affiliation: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS)

Rapsheet/Allegations: corruption, election fraud, money laundering

I bet you didn't know that: Proceeds from an oil pipeline built in part with World Bank funds were diverted to purchase weapons to the value of $30-million.

Idriss Deby heads the most corrupt country in the world according to Forbes magazine. If that doesn't say enough, Deby's government came to power via a coup. Deby's family is also involved in the politics of the country, with wife Hinda a member of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency.

Deby's late son Brahim, was also a member of the government, serving as a presidential advisor until he was sacked for being in possession of drugs and a weapon. According to rebel leader Makaila Nguebla, Brahim used to slap and humiliate government ministers.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia)

Assumed office: 7 November 1987

Years in power: 22 years

Political affiliation: Consitutional Democratic Rally

Rapsheet/Allegations: Torture, murder, intimidation, harassment and corruption

I bet you didn't know that: The Tunisian First Lady has been using the government's Boeing 737 to make stops at the fashion capitals of Milan, Paris and Geneva among other places.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister of Tunisia by President Habib Bourguiba, a few weeks later, Ali declared the president medically unfit to hold office, effectively forcing Boruguiba to hand over power to Ben Ali. A pro-Western president who has flown under the radar of many watchdogs, Ben Ali has consistently been re-elected, thanks to a referendum allowing this.

Reporters Without Borders claims that many forms of media are state-controlled, with advertising boycotts and police violence being used against media wishing to become more independent. Many people opposed to the president have been reported missing, dead or tortured according to Human Rights Watch. Ben Ali has also introduced a law exonerating him from prosecution.