Mobutu Sese Seko

Mobutu Sese Seko, for short

 

born Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga

President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) between 1965-1997

- rose to power in a bloodless coup replacing Joseph Kasavubu and Patrice Lumumba who the CIA thought were pro-Communist in 1960

raged an Authenticity campaign, trying to restore African cultural awareness. An example of this is priests were imprisoned for 5 years if they baptized a Zariean child with a Christian name.

Executed many people to consolidate his power

- Lived lavishly with many palaces and Mercedes-Benz while his people starved

- Despite this Seko had good relations with the US

"Zaire is among America's oldest friends, and its president - President Mobutu - one of our most valued friends...And so I was honored to invite President Mobutu to be the first African head of state to come to the United States for an official visit during my presidency." - President George H. W. Bush85

 

 

picture of Nixon and Seko--

link to main page--http://apwh.pbwiki.com/Weeks%2032-35:%20Modern%20history%20IDs