Africa’s Best and Worst Leaders

These political minds were some of the best…and worst.

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Africa’s Best and Worst Leaders - Upon the conviction of Charles Taylor for war crimes, BET.com takes a look at some of Africa’s best and worst political minds. —Naeesa Aziz(Photo: REUTERS/Jerry Lampen/Landov)

Photo By REUTERS/Jerry Lampen/Landov

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Best: Nelson Mandela - One of the most internationally recognized African leaders, Nelson Mandela is best known for his involvement in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and his subsequent election as the country’s first Black president in 1994. (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Carter /Landov)

Best: Kwame Nkrumah  - Kwame Nkrumah served as the first president of the West African nation of Ghana and was one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity (predecessor of the African Union). Nkrumah was an outspoken proponent of Pan-Africanism.(Photo: Central Press/Getty Images)

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Best: Kwame Nkrumah - Kwame Nkrumah served as the first president of the West African nation of Ghana and was one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity (predecessor of the African Union). Nkrumah was an outspoken proponent of Pan-Africanism.(Photo: Central Press/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Central Press/Getty Images

Best: Alpha Oumar Konare  - Konare served as president of Mali for two five-year terms and was chairperson of the African Union from 2003 to 2008. He is credited with boosting Mali’s economy and fostering democracy. (Photo: Reuters)

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Best: Alpha Oumar Konare - Konare served as president of Mali for two five-year terms and was chairperson of the African Union from 2003 to 2008. He is credited with boosting Mali’s economy and fostering democracy. (Photo: Reuters)

Photo By Photo: Reuters

Best: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf - Africa’s first elected female head of state, Sirleaf has been lauded for bringing stability back to Liberia after years of civil war. Sirleaf is also the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize. (Photo: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

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Best: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf - Africa’s first elected female head of state, Sirleaf has been lauded for bringing stability back to Liberia after years of civil war. Sirleaf is also the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize. (Photo: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

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Best: Haile Selassie - Selassie ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He is credited with fending of an invasion by Italy and was influential in starting the Organization of African Unity. (Photo: Henry Guttmann/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Henry Guttmann/Getty Images

Worst: Idi Amin - Amin ruled Uganda as a ruthless dictator for eight years and is best remembered for his gross mismanagement of the country’s finances and vast human rights abuses.  (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)

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Worst: Idi Amin - Amin ruled Uganda as a ruthless dictator for eight years and is best remembered for his gross mismanagement of the country’s finances and vast human rights abuses.  (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

Former Liberian President Taylor Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity - Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia and onetime powerful warlord, was found guilty of crimes against civilians in Sierra Leone during that nation’s civil war in the 1990s. (Photo: PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)

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Worst: Charles Taylor - Taylor, who served as president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, was recently found guilty of crimes against humanity, including terrorizing the civilian population of neighboring Sierra Leone and recruiting children as soldiers.(Photo: PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)

Worst: King Mswati III - Africa’s last monarch, Mswati has banned all political parties in Swaziland and, despite the country’s economic crisis, recently asked his subjects to donate cows to be slaughtered for a mass feast to celebrate his birthday.(Photo: REUTERS/Str)

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Worst: King Mswati III - Africa’s last monarch, Mswati has banned all political parties in Swaziland and, despite the country’s economic crisis, recently asked his subjects to donate cows to be slaughtered for a mass feast to celebrate his birthday.(Photo: REUTERS/Str)

Worst: Robert Mugabe - Mugabe, 88, is currently in his 32nd year as president of Zimbabwe. Mugabe is widely criticized for his inadequate handling of the economy, human rights abuses and his refusal to step down from office.(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Worst: Robert Mugabe - Mugabe, 88, is currently in his 32nd year as president of Zimbabwe. Mugabe is widely criticized for his inadequate handling of the economy, human rights abuses and his refusal to step down from office.(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Worst: Jean-Bédel Bokassa - As both president and self-crowned emperor of the Central African Republic, Bokassa ruled his country for twenty years and is remembered for his alleged involvement of the massacre of 100 children. (Photo: Reuters)

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Worst: Jean-Bédel Bokassa - As both president and self-crowned emperor of the Central African Republic, Bokassa ruled his country for twenty years and is remembered for his alleged involvement of the massacre of 100 children. (Photo: Reuters)