President Robert Mugabe’s age-mate, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, has died. He was 90 years old, exactly the same as Mugabe, the latter who has in the past repeatedly compared himself with Abdullah and the UK’s Queen Elizabeth defending his long 35 year reign.

By David Hwangwa
The world’s oldest ruler, the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, dropped dead aged 91 after suffering from a bout of pneumonia. The monarch, who was at the helm since ascending to the throne at the death of his half-brother in 2005, led the Islamic state, a key ally of the US, having to balance between keeping the world’s biggest oil-producing country against a backdrop of increased terror attacks from Islamist terror groups and ISIS.
His death leaves only Zimbabwe’s president as the only other president aged 90, who is also facing a similar condition of deteriorating health with suspected cancer ailments. Condolences from world leaders continued to pour for the fallen leader, under whose leadership major reforms occurred in the often strict Muslim country. Notable amongst his reforms was his efforts at relaxing the often strict rules against women, allowing them to compete at the Olympics for the first time as well as voting for the first time.
Despite his attempts at reforms, King Abdullah was rated as one of the worst dictators in the world. Saudi Arabia is one of the most strictest states in the world, practicing the strict Sharia law where it is mandatory to amputate hands for theft. Women’s rights are limited to the most extreme. Freedom of expression, religion and basic human rights are at most suppressed in Saudi Arabia. He was seen as worse than Mugabe and was in 2003 voted as the world’s second worst dictator in the world.
King Abdullah was buried at an unmarked burial site on Friday according to muslim culture. He is succeeded by his half brother, Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who has vowed to continue King Abdullah’s legacy and bring more reforms to the home of Islam. Despite his death, Saudi Arabia is set to continue with the same governance with the new king promising to continue his predecessor’s legacy, giving birth to yet another world dictator