Idi Amin Dada: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|In any country there must be people who have to die. They are the sacrifices any nation has to make to achieve law and order.|Idi Amin, quoted in ''Morrow's International Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations'', 1982.}} | {{Quote|In any country there must be people who have to die. They are the sacrifices any nation has to make to achieve law and order.|Idi Amin, quoted in ''Morrow's International Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations'', 1982.}} | ||
'''Idi Amin Dada''' (1924 - August 16<sup>th</sup>, 2003) was the military dictator and third President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946, serving in Somalia and Kenya. Eventually, Amin held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military coup of January 1971, deposing [[Milton Obote]]. He later promoted himself to Field Marshal while he was the head of state. | '''Idi Amin Dada''' (1924 - August 16<sup>th</sup>, 2003) was the military dictator and third President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946, serving in Somalia and Kenya. Eventually, Amin held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military coup of January 1971, deposing [[Milton Obote]]. He later promoted himself to Field Marshal while he was the head of state. | ||
Revision as of 11:52, 13 May 2019
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| “ | In any country there must be people who have to die. They are the sacrifices any nation has to make to achieve law and order. | „ |
| ~ Idi Amin, quoted in Morrow's International Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations, 1982. |
Idi Amin Dada (1924 - August 16th, 2003) was the military dictator and third President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946, serving in Somalia and Kenya. Eventually, Amin held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military coup of January 1971, deposing Milton Obote. He later promoted himself to Field Marshal while he was the head of state.
Amin's rule was characterised human rights abuse, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, nepotism, corruption, and gross economic mismanagement. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is estimated by international observers and human rights groups to range from 100,000 to 500,000. During his years in power, Amin shifted in allegiance from being a pro-Western ruler enjoying considerable Israeli support, to being backed by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, the Soviet Union and East Germany. In 1975 – 1976, Amin became the Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), a pan-Africanist organization designed to promote solidarity of the African states that served as the predecessor to the modern-day African Union (AU). During the 1977 – 1979 period, Uganda was a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. In 1977, when Britain broke diplomatic relations with Uganda, Amin declared he had defeated the British and added "CBE", for "Conqueror of the British Empire", to his title. Radio Uganda then announced his entire title: "His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Alhaji Dr. Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE".
Dissent within Uganda and Amin's attempt to annex the Kagera province of Tanzania in 1978 led to the Uganda–Tanzania War and the demise of his eight-year regime - leading Amin to flee to exile first to Libya, then to Saudi Arabia where he lived until his death on August 16th, 2003.
In the film The Last King of Scotland, Amin serves as the main antagonist, where he is portrayed by Forest Whitaker.
Quotes
| “ | You cannot run faster than a bullet. | „ |
| “ | Politics is like boxing. You try to knock out your opponents | „ |