|
Front: Mobutu Sese Seko (1930-1997), President of Zaire for 32 years (1965-1997)
Mobutu was born in the former Belgian Congo. He joined the
Belgian Congolese army in 1949, rising to the rank of Sergeant Major. He left in
1956 and worked as a journalist and then newspaper editor. In 1958 he joined the
nationalist Mouvement National Congolais (MNC). Following the granting of
independence on June 30, 1960, he joined the new government as Secretary of the
State for Defense. The new government was a coalition between Prime Minister
Patrice Lumumba and President Joseph Kasavubu, both of whom soon started to
struggle for overall power. Colonel Mobutu was a key figure in a coup d'état on
September 14, 1960, which overthrew Lumumba in support of Kasavubu and was rewarded
with rapid promotion.
In 1965, now Lieutenant-General Mobutu seized power from President Kasavubu,
following another power struggle between Kasavubu and his Prime Minister Moise
Tshombe. Mobutu declared himself president for five years and was elected
president in 1970. Mobutu renamed the country the Republic of Zaire in October 1971.
Mobutu was overthrown by Tutsi rebels and other anti-Mobutu groups in 1997 and Zaire
was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Back: Flora, elephant tusks, factory and pyramids
|
