Trujillo (Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina)

Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina was a Dominican strongman who ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. His dictatorship was characterized by authoritarian control, suppression of political opposition, and human rights abuses. Trujillo maintained power through a tightly controlled security apparatus, cult of personality, and economic favoritism. His regime was marked by modernization efforts, but also by repression, violence, and exploitation. Despite his brutality, some credited him with public infrastructure improvements. His rule ended with his assassination, leading to political instability, but he remains a significant, controversial figure in Dominican history.