Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, later known as Mobutu Sese Seko, was born on October 14, 1930, in Lisala, Belgian Congo (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo). Mobutu was the son of a cook and a hotel maid and grew up in a modest background. He attended missionary schools and later joined the Belgian army, the Force Publique, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. Mobutu became involved in nationalist politics and worked as a journalist before emerging as a significant figure during the Congo Crisis in the 1960s.

In 1960, the Congo gained independence from Belgium, but the country quickly descended into chaos due to political power struggles, ethnic tensions, and foreign intervention. Mobutu, who had been appointed as the chief of staff of the army by the first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, played a crucial role during the crisis. Initially, he supported Lumumba, but he soon shifted alliances. In September 1960, Mobutu orchestrated a military coup that ousted Lumumba and established a new regime supported by the United States and other Western nations, fearing that the Congo might align with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Lumumba was later captured and executed by forces loyal to Mobutu and Katangan secessionists.

Mobutu consolidated his power and became the de facto ruler of the Congo. In 1965, he staged another coup, this time taking direct control of the country and declaring himself President. He changed the country’s name to Zaire in 1971 and adopted the name Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, which can be loosely translated to "the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, goes from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake." Mobutu implemented a policy of "Authenticity," which aimed to rid Zaire of its colonial influences by promoting African culture, changing place names, and urging citizens to abandon European names.

Mobutu’s rule was marked by authoritarianism, corruption, and repression. He amassed enormous wealth through the embezzlement of state resources, making him one of the richest men in the world at the time. Meanwhile, Zaire’s economy deteriorated, and living conditions for most of the population worsened. Mobutu maintained his grip on power through a combination of patronage, suppression of dissent, and the support of Western governments, particularly the United States, which saw him as a bulwark against communism in Africa.

Despite his close ties with the West, Mobutu faced increasing internal opposition throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s, as the Cold War ended and international support for his regime waned, Zaire descended into chaos. Mobutu’s health also deteriorated; he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His grip on power finally crumbled in 1997 when rebel forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, with support from Rwanda and Uganda, marched on Kinshasa, the capital. Mobutu fled the country and went into exile in Morocco, where he died on September 7, 1997.

Mobutu's legacy is one of dictatorship, kleptocracy, and human rights abuses, but he also left an indelible mark on African politics. His personal rule, his efforts to forge a national identity, and his role as a key figure in the geopolitics of the Cold War era make him one of the most significant African leaders of the 20th century.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko