Mobutu Sese Seko
“Today we are failed state.”
Mobutu Sese Seko was born on October 13, 1930 in Lisala,
Belgian Congo, which is now known as the
Democratic Republic of Congo. He died on September 7, 1997 in Rabat, Morocco. Mobutu started his journey to the presidency of Congo in 1949 as a clerk in the
Belgian Congolese army, the Force Publique. He quickly rised to the position of
Sergeant Major, which was the highest ranking available for Africans. While he
was in the army Mobutu wrote articles for the newspapers in Kinshasa, and when he was discharge from the army in 1956 he got a job as a reporter for the daily L’Avenir.
In 1960 Mobutu supported Patrice Lumumba’s ideas for a centralized state for
the Congo. When the Congo became independent on June 30, 1960 Mobutu was appointed secretary of state for national defense. Then later in 1965 Mobutu became the president of the Congountil he was exiled in 1997.
Mobutu’s rein lasted about 32 years. Mobutu made many decisions for the
Congo, and revolts started from Congolese exiles, ethnic groups and citizens that were negatively affected by his rein. This led to civil wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ultimately making life difficult for everybody that lived there.
Belgian Congo, which is now known as the
Democratic Republic of Congo. He died on September 7, 1997 in Rabat, Morocco. Mobutu started his journey to the presidency of Congo in 1949 as a clerk in the
Belgian Congolese army, the Force Publique. He quickly rised to the position of
Sergeant Major, which was the highest ranking available for Africans. While he
was in the army Mobutu wrote articles for the newspapers in Kinshasa, and when he was discharge from the army in 1956 he got a job as a reporter for the daily L’Avenir.
In 1960 Mobutu supported Patrice Lumumba’s ideas for a centralized state for
the Congo. When the Congo became independent on June 30, 1960 Mobutu was appointed secretary of state for national defense. Then later in 1965 Mobutu became the president of the Congountil he was exiled in 1997.
Mobutu’s rein lasted about 32 years. Mobutu made many decisions for the
Congo, and revolts started from Congolese exiles, ethnic groups and citizens that were negatively affected by his rein. This led to civil wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ultimately making life difficult for everybody that lived there.
“Everything you hear about Congo, it’s only 10 percent of what is going on there.”