The fate of one of the world’s most evil men hangs on the outcome of the Zimbabwean presidential run-off. Since 1991, Mengistu Haile Mariam has been living in Zimbabwe under the protection of president Robert Mugabe. Mengistu was the most prominent leader of the Derg, responsible for the Ethiopian Red Terror of 1977-8. He has been convicted of genocide in Ethiopia, and he is the only living principal perpetrator of the ten worst genocides of the 20th century.
It is commonly believed in Zimbabwe that Mengistu, who lives in luxurious accommodation with 24-hour security, acts as an advisor to the ruling party, Zanu PF, on how to silence its critics through murder and torture. He is said to have been the adviser behind a government operation in 2005 to clear urban slums in order to reduce the likelihood of a mass uprising. The slum-clearing operation resulted in the displacement of more than 700,000 people and numerous deaths.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change party has pledged to hand Mengistu over to the Ethiopian authorities. Mengistu currently enjoys numerous privileges in Zimbabwe, including ownership of farms which were seized by the government from white farmers, and ownership and free servicing of a range of luxury vehicles.