A dictator doesn't care a lot about how he looks to the wider world. That's the nature of megalomania. He propagandizes and terrorizes those within his sphere of influence -- and in that space he wants to look as a benefactor and a strict disciplinarian. And when that propaganda hits the wall of that dome, it bounces back to him and he only starts to believe his own ego feed more. If some of that propaganda gets out -- who cares? They wouldn't dare mess with his glory, right?
Meanwhile on the outside, if he doesn't have oil, then none of the big countries want to do anything other than sell him guns and none of the small countries can afford the cost of punishing him, so he can go on indefinitely as long as he toes the line. Look at N. Korea, Cuba, Libya, and until recently Iraq. Look at the leaders of both of the main parties in our system. Right down to pimps and kingpin drug dealers. All the same ego, each just scaled to fit the boundaries.