Mugabe Celebrates First Birthday As Former President

As the ousted former despot celebrates his 94th birthday, we look back at his life in politics.
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Robert Mugabe kissing his wife and then-first lady Grace Mugabe during during Zimbabwe's 37th Independence Day celebrations in 2017.
AFP

Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe turns 94 today. Although he has been characterised as a fascist African leader who ruled the country from independence in 1980 until last year, when he resigned during Zimbabwe's "soft" coup, "uncle Bob" is still an African icon.

Here's a look at some some of the important events during Mugabe's rule, in pictures.

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File photo dated 02/08/1986 of Robert Mugabe, who has resigned as president of Zimbabwe.
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File photo dated 17/05/1994 of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh with Robert Mugabe before a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Mr Mugabe has resigned as president of Zimbabwe.
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File photo dated 19/04/1980 of the Prince of Wales receiving an Independence Medal from Robert Mugabe, who has resigned as president of Zimbabwe.
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File photo dated 01/10/88 of Margaret Thatcher with Robert Mugabe, whose legacy as one of the most ruthless tyrants of modern times will remain long after his days as notorious statesman of Zimbabwe are over.
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Robert Mugabe with his wife Sally at Lord Soames funeral at All Saints Curch, Odiham Lord Soames a former governor of Rhodesia, aided Mugabe in the early days of his country's independence.
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Lord Carrington Foreign Secretary (left) speaks to Robert Mugabe as he greeted the delegates at Lancaster house at the opening of the Zimbabwe Rhodesia constitutional conference.
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Guerrilla leaders Joshua Nkomo (L) and Robert Mugabe (R) signing the Rhodesia ceasefire agreement for the Patriotic Front at Lancaster House in London.
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This file photo taken on December 17, 2016 shows former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe speaking at the party's annual conference on December in Masvingo. Mugabe was removed as the ZANU-PF party leader, according to party delegate on November 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA
AFP
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(FILES) This file photo taken on April 18, 2017 shows former president Robert Mugabe kissing his wife and then-first lady Grace Mugabe during during the country's 37th Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15, 2017 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa's dismissal left Mugabe's wife Grace, 52, in prime position to succeed her husband as the next president -- a succession strongly opposed by senior ranks in the military. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA
AFP