There are few world leaders whom promote a cult persona like Qadhafi. The eccentric Libyan leader is infamous for his state-sponsorship of terrorism and the butt of jokes for his all-female presidential guard (cleavage and all) and his traveling Bedouin, air-conditioned tent.

But Qadhafi is not just odd, but a mega-manic. A student of Mao and other communist literature, since his attainment of power in the 1960s Qadhafi has promoted an image of himself as a savior. Like Mao, he also authored a manifesto to life but went with the “Green Book” instead of the “Red.”

Qadhafi openly derides the question of democracy, unlike his fellow Arab tyrants whom like to keep up the facade; Qadhafi states that democracy is simply unbecoming for Africa. No, instead Africa deserves a strong, resolute and decisive leader like The Libyan. As the sign makes clear:

The signs rises with Libya, ya know?

Having traveled throughout Tunisia, I can attest that the image of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali is ubiquitous in the country. The regime wants to remind people that Ben Ali and his cronies run the country and know all in the police state that Tunisia regrettably is.

His image is not all. Inaugurated after a medical coup on November 7, 1987; the number 7 has become synonymous with Ben Ali due to the regime’s promotion of the number as a reminder of the great “change” of 1987. The number 7 appears on buildings, money and is the logo for Tunisian state television (which isn’t on channel 7 ironically).

But Ben Ali’s hair-dyed image and number 7 are not attached to any words. Tunisians are, at least, spared such crude propaganda. Libyans, unfortunately, are not:

“Wherever you (Qadhafi) went, happiness prevails, and life attains ornaments.”

Qadhafi’s Signs: A reminder that where there is bad there is often worse else where.