Country seized by thug and autocrat (6)
I believe the answer is:
uganda
'country' is the definition.
(I know that Uganda is a country)
'seized by thug and autocrat' is the wordplay.
'seized by' says the answer is hidden in the clue (the answer has been seized by the clue).
'UGANDA' can be found hidden inside 'thug and autocrat'.
(Other definitions for uganda that I've seen before include "East African country, capital Kampala" , "African country once ruled by Idi Amin, capital Kampala" , "part of Africa" , "Idi Amin's native land" , "Country bordering Lake Victoria" .)