Mobutu Sese Seko

1930 – 1997

Mobutu Sese Seko, born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was a Congolese politician and military officer who ruled Zaire (today's Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 until his 1997 overthrow by Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rebellion. He oversaw the assassination of Patrice Lumumba in 1961 with U.S. and Belgian backing, then through more than three decades of one-party rule embezzled an estimated $4 billion in state and aid funds while the country's economy and infrastructure collapsed. His regime was sustained by Western Cold War support that survived its routine torture, summary executions, and disappearance of political opponents.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM