In the 1980s and 1990s, the West identified a new breed of African leaders believed to be a godsend to Africa. They were a "beacon of hope" for countries whose leaders had not only mismanaged but also destroyed the economies and brutally oppressed their citizens. The leaders were Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea.

First I want to consider African leaders whose impact on their citizens and the African continent is still felt: Jean Bedel Bokassa of the Central African Republic (CAR), Idi Amin of Uganda, and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire. They reigned about the same time in the East and Central Africa. Perhaps by sheer coincidence, their leadership abilities were honed in the military where each had a distinguished career.

Strikingly, they loved grandiosity, pomposity, and exuberance. This trait was the driving force of what they did in their countries… and especially for themselves. They had the charisma to make decisions and do certain things which were admired or hated at home and in some parts of the world.

Jean Bedel Bokassa was in the French colonial army as a private. During his deployment in Indochina, he had distinguished military service which earned him many medals and promotions to the rank of captain. When he took over power in CAR in a coup in 1965, he courageously implemented his vision of what he thought the country should become. He became president, prime minister, commander- in- chief of the army, and leader of the only political party, all in one.

The pinnacle of his power was epitomized by his personal coronation Napoleon- style. Apparently, Bokassa admired Napoleon so much that he had to bleed the country to bankruptcy to cough up over $30 million for the magnificent ceremony with white horses. His diamond- encrusted crown alone cost five million dollars. He argued that by becoming an emperor and changing the state into an empire, he would gain stature, respect, and value. Of course, becoming emperor did not prevent him from personally participating in the killing of over 100 school children who rebelled against his orders and the allegation he was a cannibal.

Idi Amin was in the King's African Rifles, a colonial outfit where he, too, earned a name for merciless brutality. He became president of Uganda in 1971. An avid admirer of Adolf Hitler, he cut his teeth for an eight- year presidency, which many did not expect or wish to last that long.

Amin loved publicity so much that he created his own presidential unit to serve his media needs. The only national daily at the time was nicknamed "Voice of Amin" rather than being referred to as Voice of Uganda.

He had great affinity for grandiosity and pomposity of titles, which created a lot of problems to the editors of the government newspaper. It was mandatory to use all his titles in all the presidential stories. The template was "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal, Al Hajji, Dr. Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in general and Uganda in particular, and Commander- in- Chief of the Uganda armed forces."

When he became chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now Africa Union, that title was also added. To omit one title was sacrilegious as it was interpreted to be demeaning of the president. Two editors who made such mistakes simply fled to exile.

Amin's grand power exuberance came to an end when he expelled Asians of British origin from Uganda in 1972 giving a 90- day deadline. It took the Tanzanian army intervention in 1979 to dismantle him from power. It was his mistake to invade Tanzania's territory and infuriate the late president Julius Nyerere who launched a punitive and ouster expedition. Amin fled to Saudi Arabia where he died in 2003.

Mobutu was a soldier who came to power in a coup in 1965. He implemented an Africanization program in which he ordered that all foreign names be replaced by native ones. He changed the name of the country from Congo Republic to Zaire and his own name from Joseph- Desire Mobutu to "Mobutu Sese Seko, Kuku Ngbendu wa Zabanga," preceded by Field Marshal President… The long native name was variously translated as "Lion Warrior," "Savior of the Nation," and "Supreme Combatant." Economists gave him another, "kleptocrat," to describe the massive wealth he looted and plundered from the country.

An admirer of the likes of Niccolo Machiavelli, Winston Churchill, and Charles de Gaulle, Mobutu nurtured a personality cult symbolized by the prevalence of his portraits all over the country. And he introduced characteristic attire called "Mobutu suit." Government officials wore lapels with his portraits as a symbol of loyalty and love.