The Congo was ruled for 32 years by Mobutu Sese Seko, his reign is infamous for its brutality, corruption, and decadence. Mobutu Sese Seko, once a hopeful political journalist, became one of the world’s most infamous dictators. His rise was achieved through calculated exploitation of political instability. A brutal campaign of terror would be led to eliminate any opponents to tighten his grip on his nation. Mobutu would become one of the world’s richest men while the people of his country were starving. Throughout the Cold War, Mobutu would enjoy the constant backing of the United States, propelling his nation to the forefront of African politics.

Early Life & Political Involvement

Joseph-Desire Mobutu was born in Lisala, in the Northwestern Belgian Congo, on October 14, 1930. His parents were hotel maids, and his father, Alberic was a cook for a Belgian judge. Mobutu was just eight years old when Alberic passed away, and as a result, he was raised by his uncles and grandfathers.

A Catholic mission boarding school gave Mobutu an excellent education and he excelled in numerous academic areas. His sporting accomplishments and humorous personality made him well-known. However, Mobutu became well known for his disregard for rules and authority after he became a young man. In 1949, Mobutu escaped from school by stowing away on a boat. He was sent to serve in the colonial army as punishment after priests from the school found him downriver.

At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Mobutu was noted for his physical presence, which was complemented by the discipline he acquired during his military service. Mobutu began writing about politics for a magazine called “Actualités Africaines” during his time in the army.

Mobutu began working as a journalist for “L’Avenir” in 1956, at the end of his service. He was introduced to a group of young Congolese intellectuals during this period. He got to know Patrice Lumumba, a major player in the Congolese independence movement. As Lumumba’s personal aide, Mobutu joined the “Congolese National Movement”. Around this time, it was rumored that Mobutu was recruited as an informer by the Belgian intelligence services.

Rise to power

Congo’s independence from Belgium was achieved in 1960 and Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first prime minister was elected, and Mobutu was appointed as Secretary of State to the Presidency.

Soon after gaining independence, a group of armed forces personnel began to strike over their substandard conditions. Following the mutiny, Mobutu was promoted to Army Chief of Staff and awarded the rank of Colonel.

A period of political turmoil known as the “Congo Crisis” ensued after the Congo gained independence. With the support of Belgium, two Congolese provinces tried to secede from the new country. The relationship between Lumumba and President Joseph Kasa-Vubu collapsed during the crisis. Lumumba was dismissed from office by Kasa-Vubu, and in retaliation, Lumumba declared Kasa-Vubu deposed. Each of them ordered Mobutu to be arrested. Mobutu, under immense pressure from both sides, ordered a coup on September 14, 1960, to neutralize the government.

Following the coup, Mobutu ultimately returned power to Kasa-Vubu, who in turn named Mobutu Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. This made him one of the most powerful men in Congo. In hopes of establishing his own government, Lumumba fled to his residence. Later, Mobutu directed Lumumba’s detention and handed him over to Belgian and separatist forces. Lumumba was consequently murdered on January 17, 1961, by those forces.

The country’s next prime minister was Moise Tshombe, who was the former leader of one of the secessionist Katanga provinces. Kasa-Vubu, on the other hand, resisted the election results and attempted to appoint his own premier, Evariste Kimba. Kimba was refused by the Congolese parliament. The country was left in a position of turmoil and uncertainty because of this. The Congo was seized by a second coup on November 24, 1965.

Establishment of total power over the country

Mobutu moved quickly to consolidate his control and suppress any opposition after his ascension to power. Mobutu claimed that he would assume absolute power for five years in order to reverse the damage caused by politicians. All political parties, except for the “Popular Movement of the Revolution” (MPR), his own party, were permanently suspended by him.

An authenticity campaign was launched to bolster Mobutu’s authority. Nationalism was the driving force behind the campaign, and Mobutu capitalized on it to garner popular backing. To promote an African identity and remove remnants of European colonialism, the Congo was renamed Zaire to promote an African identity. The capital Leopoldville became Kinshasa after being renamed. Priests were threatened with imprisonment if they baptized a Zairian child with a Western name because the adoption of African names was promoted.

Mobutu would also change his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, which means „the all-mighty warrior who will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire behind.” The Congo under Mobutu’s rule is forewarned by his eccentricity, extravagance, and self-indulgence.

The individuals who challenged Mobutu’s rule were dealt with brutally. Four cabinet ministers were accused of orchestrating a coup against Mobutu in 1966. They were publicly executed in front of 50,000 people in front of them. Pierre Mulele, former Minister of Education under Lumumba and leader of the 1964 Simba Rebellion was lured out of exile under the promise of amnesty.

Mobutu held elections in 1970, after five years in power. Mobutu was the only candidate, however the voters had the option of voting “yes for Mobutu” or “no for Mobutu”. Over 10 million yes votes and just 157 no votes were recorded when the results were tallied. 1974 saw the introduction of a new constitution. The MPR was made the sole institution of the country. There would be a president elected every seven years. The MPR’s president, Mobutu, was unsurprisingly the sole contender for the presidency. All opposition to Mobutu’s rule had been crushed.

The one and only

Under Mobutu, Zaire resembled a kleptocracy. Substantial amounts of public funds were misappropriated by Mobutu. Mobutu is believed to have taken 60% of the national budget in the single year of 1970. His personal fortune was believed to be upwards of $5 billion during his reign. Mobutu was also known for his nepotism, promoting family and friends to high-ranking positions in both the government and the military, regardless of the individual’s aptitude for the role. The nation’s wealth enabled Mobutu to indulge in an extravagant lifestyle. The Versailles of the Jungle was Mobutu’s personal residence in Gbadolite, he built himself three large palaces and a town with a hospital, schools, grocery stores and malls, far more lavish than anywhere else in Zaire. A Concorde that Mobuto would frequently charter for shopping trips to Paris was landed at Gbadolite airport.

The lives of the Zairian people were quite different from those of Mobutu, who became one of the world’s richest men and indulged in lavish lifestyles. Once in power, Mobutu seized numerous foreign-owned enterprises. However, he again distributed many of them to close friends. Similar to Mobutu, they also exploited their position for their own ends and others followed his example in the field of corruption. The economic crisis in Zaire led to corrupt practices by public servants. Much of Zaire’s infrastructure was destroyed by the embezzlement of public funds.

In 1993, approximately three million people in Kinshasa were unemployed. Mobutu mishandling of the economy led to the inflation rate skyrocketing to 4,400% A civil service worker in Zaire earned roughly $25 per month, according to statistics. In comparison, a 110-pound sack of corn flour, which was enough to feed a family of four for a week, cost $50. By 1993, 5.2% of the country’s population, roughly 1.8 million people, had suffered from acute malnutrition. The infant mortality rate in Zaire was among the highest in the world, and many people died because they couldn’t afford medical care.

The collapse of the regime

The United States showed significant support for Mobutu despite his dictatorial rule. Mobutu visited the White House three times at the invitation of Ronald Reagan. Half of the aid budget distributed to Sub-Saharan Africa would go to Zaire under President Jimmy Carter.

Mobutu’s warm relationship with the US took place during the Cold War. The United States became increasingly concerned about the spread of communism within Sub-Saharan Africa. The US believed that Mobutu could be a regional strongman with US’s backing, he would be able to mediate regional issues and dissuade communism.

Following the end of the Cold War, the United States began pressure on Mobutu to improve human rights in Zaire. Furthermore, calls for Mobutu to relinquish power were increasing, and civilian discontent was growing. Mobutu’s rule was protested against by students at the National University of Zaire. As many as 150 students were killed when a special military unit from the Zairian army stormed the campus that night. All non-humanitarian aid from Zaire was withdrawn after worldwide condemnation. Mobutu, under immense pressure, promised elections and appointed a transitional government.

Regardless of Mobutu’s attempts to hold on to power, it would be events in neighboring Rwanda that would ultimately decide the future of Zaire. In 1994, approximately 600,000 ethnic Tutsi were killed by members of the Hutu ethnic group in what is known as the Rwandan Genocide. Fearing retribution, thousands of Hutu fled into Zaire in the aftermath of the genocide. From the safety of the refugee camps in eastern Zaire, Hutu militants launched an assault into Rwanda and targeted Zairian Tutsi.

Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni, the new Tutsi Rwandan government, believed that Mobutu was not doing enough to dispel the violence. An anti-Mobutu coalition force led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila was allied with the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo.

Rwanda, Uganda, and the AFDL invaded Zaire to overthrow Mobutu on October 24, 1996. As Mobutu’s forces capitulated, the coalition’s forces faced little resistance. Mobutu was ousted after six months of fighting, and Kabila became the new president of the newly-christened Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mobutu fled to Rabat, Morocco, after being overthrown. He passed away in exile on September 7, 1997, due to prostate cancer.

Mobutu’s Legacy

Mobutu’s overthrow wouldn’t lead to lasting peace for the Congolese people. Rwanda and Uganda, the very forces that toppled Mobutu, invaded again in 1998 to remove Kabila from power. The Second Congo War was the deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people.

Now, there are as many as 150 armed groups currently active in the county. These groups of varying sizes continue to threaten the Congolese people with indiscriminate violence, regardless of size. The Congo, to the dismay of its inhabitants, remains shattered and volatile.

The personification of what is often associated with a dictator is Mobutu Sese Seko. An exaggerated, larger-than-life character was what he was. The man bathed in luxury while the Zairian people languished in poverty, while grasping Zaire in his iron grip.

The kleptocratic governance and brutal treatment of political opponents are the hallmarks of Mobutus’s regime. Despite this, Mobutu was able to forge strong international connections, particularly with the United States during the Cold War, and remained a prominent figure on the global stage.

It is impossible to underestimate his impact on the Congo and Sub-Saharan Africa. War and malnutrition have contributed to the deaths of millions through his reign and overthrow. Many of the region’s political ills can be traced to Mobutu, even today. His place in Congolese and African history will always be fraught with controversy.

Sources:

Mobutu Sese Seko – Power, Corruption, and the Collapse of a Dictatorship!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FWiNVqfOc

DRC: Monument unveiled in memory of Mobutu Sese Seko: https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/01/drc-monument-unveiled-in-memory-of-mobutu-sese-seko/

Mobutu Sese Seko – Congo’s Infamous Despot Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_ZKYiaqUZQ

MOBUTU KING OF ZAÏRE – CONGO – VOST EN – Belgique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpCb_Yg_qJA

How Mobutu Completely Destroyed the Congo | Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UE7oyTWnYE

How Mobutu Conquered Congo | The Complex History of the Leopard of Zaire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlJwDXelMcM

Mobutu Sese Seko: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mobutu-Sese-Seko

In the Shadow of the ‘Great Helmsman’: Mobutu Sese Seko’s Life and Legacy in the DR Congo: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2017/09/07/in-the-shadow-of-the-great-helmsman-mobutu-sese-sekos-life-and-legacy-in-the-dr-congo/

Congolese nostalgic for era of Mobutu, the ‘leopard of Zaire’: https://www.france24.com/en/revisited/20181101-drcongo-gbadolite-mobutu-zaire

Mobutu leaves legacy of chaos and corruption: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mobutu-leaves-legacy-of-chaos-and-corruption-1.104463

Legacy of Guile, Greed and Graft: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-17-mn-59597-story.html