Mobutu Sese Seko - Power, Corruption, and the Collapse of a Dictatorship!

On Saturday 17 May 1997, Laurent Kabila’s forces seized power marking the collapse of Zaire, the 32-year-old state which had been created by Mobutu Sese Seko out of the chaos of the original Congo, and sustained with the help at different periods of his Western allies Belgium, the United States and France.
Mobutu Sese Seko's departure as the leader of Africa's third-largest country was one of the most significant events to shape post-colonial Africa and various analysts say that Mobutu created his own downfall with a mixture of extreme greed and shortsightedness….
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The Collapse of Zaïre: Implosion, Revolution or External Sabotage? Mel McNulty, The Journal of Modern African Studies , Vol. 37, No. 1 (Mar., 1999), pp. 53-82 (30 pages)
www.csmonitor.com/1997/0519/0...
/ taming-the-leopard-the...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2...
issafrica.org/chapter-2-a-his...
www.economist.com/special/199...
reliefweb.int/report/democrat...
The End Of Mobutu's Dictatorship: reliefweb.int/report/democrat...
Africa, A Modern History, Guy Arnold.
The State of Africa , Martin Meredith
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Music:
John Stockton Slow Drag by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/uvp/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
Mercy by Kai Engel
Music by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au
CC BY-SA 4.0
Kai Engel - Lesicia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kai Engel - Norctune, CC BY-SA 4.0
Night Music - Kevin MacLeod
Epidemic Sound
French Fuse | Rain Fuse

[@user-fc7is6jo2e]

Very interesting! My family and I love geography, and outstanding videos like those on your channel help us to achieve joy from learning. Thank you!

[@AfricanBiographics]

This comment means a lot to me. I am glad you like the videos

[@ochienggabriel3446]

but this is history, not Geography, LOL. I think NATGEO is a better channel for Geography

[@user-fc7is6jo2e]

​@@ochienggabriel3446 Historical Geography is one of the many fields within geography. You must have skipped high school geography, given that you do not understand the basics of the many branches within that fascinating subject. If it were just US History being studied by an American, then you could make a valid (but weak) argument that it would only be "history". But! If a person who was not an American were to study a historical topic outside of their cultural frame of reference, like in Africa, then it would fit perfectly within the realm of historical geography. What I want to know is how you can be over 14-years-old and not know the names of the basic branches of geography? Since you are not a high school graduate, I highly recommend that you watch the wonderful KZbin channel "Crash Course". They have an outstanding geography course that touches on the basics of that wonderful field. ;)

[@ochienggabriel3446]

but this is not historical geography, like you claim it to be. don't just cram things but try to understand! unless you are an archaeologist digging up mummies of pharaohs, this documentary is pure history and there is no geography about it@@user-fc7is6jo2e

[@ZvikomboreroMunaku]

This is history not geography pliz

[@clivepilusa7734]

This is one of the few human beings we can look at and confidently assert that he had no positive impact on the world. Mobuto was truly a disaster not just for the Congo but for Africa as a whole.

[@smartindian8500]

As terrible a leader as he was, you must acknowledge his good deeds. When he first seized power, he ENDED the Congo Crisis. As leader of Zaire, he kept stability (as the country had no war then) in the first 25 years. However, other than that, he was all evil and he has no positive legacy.

[@kikidv4r1s]

I absolutely hated history in highschool,,but ever since I discovered this channel=I am addicted. Keep up the good work.

[@Garbeaux.]

I feel you. It wasn’t even until after high school and college I learned I love history.

[@cashewnuttel9054]

Because the history they teach in high school is not interesting, this is interesting. Who the fudge cares about some tribes 1000 years ago?!

[@AfricanBiographics]

Don't be shy to like and share the video if you enjoyed it. 😀

[@stenforms9928]

DRC has an interesting yet tragic history, hope to see this country more prosper one day. Great video as always! 👍

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thank you

[@SirFrantzKrzysztof]

As a South African citizen, I agree with you. I would like to see a documentary of Gabriel Kyungu Wa Kumwanza and Jean Ngunza Karl-I-Bond.

[@cashewnuttel9054]

@@AfricanBiographics I know he's not from Africa, but he is of African descent, can you please do a video on Papa Doc? And maybe a separate video on his son?

[@adamcheklat7387]

He was even a journalist once. Even covered the ‘58 World‘s Fair in Brussels.

[@zippygeek4629]

The introduction of how Mobutu ruled reflects what is happening in Kenya currently. A president that wants to have a say in everything.

[@nombekomatsekete-hd1lo]

Nicely narrated for my daughter’s history essay next week. From SA 🇿🇦

[@MakaveliIITheDonKilluminati]

That's what many Congolese are ignorant of... The very seeds of the chaos that is ruining their country was laid by him in the 90s... By throwing his support behind the Hutu Militias, he essentially cast his name in the dustbin of history and set in motion the events for his downfall as Kagame was never going to let that slide... I hope Congolese people can recover from this... I really hope that...

[@redfront6707]

Great video, hope for peace and prosperity in the Congo 🇨🇩

[@Beloved5]

Many thanx Tate for the Mobutu and the Zaire biographics. Now I see where that part of the continent is coming from , why it is where it is and what is likely to happen in the future

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

As a kid in the 70’s i remember articles on UNITA in Soldier of fortune magazine

[@taummoloki3076]

Much appreciation from Tanzania🇹🇿💪🏾

[@robertlevine2827]

I'm an admirer of Julius Nyerere.

[@matiaspasulani5353]

a well narrated and elaborated story. As a historian, I say keep up the good work

[@hakalumbwedexter5511]

Enjoying all the way from the neighbouring Zambia 🇿🇲

[@emmanueltsikazwe8106]

Same here 🇿🇲

[@AfricanBiographics]

ZED to the world 🇿🇲 !!

[@CreativeMania_TV]

great work, Much appreciation from Kenya

[@jonathankaranja5857]

I too am from Kenya 🇰🇪.

[@ymarw1684]

Great and informative video!

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thank you

[@ghugha9610]

Great video but please correct 19:34. Mobutu fled Gbadolite to Togo on Saturday 17 May 1997 and not 18th May. He left in the early hours of May 17th May 1997 in a Ukrainian cargo plain, scheduled to deliver weapons for Savimbi. Weapons heading to Savimbi often passed through the airport of Gbadolite. On the 17th of May 1997, one of Mobutu's bodyguards (Major Ngani) stopped one of the Ukrainian planes transportating weapons to Savimbi and coerced the pilots to evacuate Mobutu. This also came as a result of an unfulfilled promise from Eyadema, then president of Togo, who promised but failed to send a plane to evacuate Mobutu. Mobutu's own plane had been held back in Brazzaville by his own pilot (Commandant Mukandela) who had defected. Mobutu aldo fled without his passport because the bodyguard in charge of his passport stole it and made away with it.

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thank you

[@ghugha9610]

@@AfricanBiographics you are welcome

[@1wun1]

​@@ghugha9610 Damn, the end of a strong man can be worse than that of a commoner.

[@kapplmar]

Your content is improving with each upload! I revisited your initial videos, and it's clear that you've made tremendous progress in every aspect, but especially in your speaking skills.

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thank you so much

[@isaacngandu07]

All respect to your videos African Biographic ❤

[@Noni383]

African biographics on this one again Awesome video again. I love this. Mobutu was terrible

[@mariancoldes4754]

Your deep research and very thorough analysis of the leaders and their upbringing is very amazing. Keep going brother. Loving learning about all the leaders of our continent. A lot of interesting characters. One request, can you do one on Isaias Afwerki. Thanks again.

[@peterkiprotich5077]

Lots of love from Kenya🇰🇪🇰🇪..i really like your documentaries

[@SillyUwUBilly]

Oh boy, this one is gonna be good :D

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Great presentation Cheers!

[@EpicgamerwinXD6669]

There are many people in this world that have done truly awful things, but most of them at least do something good, even if is unintentional. But Mubutu, who was basically just the reincarnation of Leopold II by the way, is one such individual who can't even claim to have done some good. He left the Democratic Republic of the Congo unquestionably worse off after he was ousted from power, and despite the fact the country literally has more valuable resources than anywhere else on earth has stayed a poor country ever since. Truly a shame, but assuming the East African Federation plan works out, the people of the DRC might finally get out of poverty. Here's hoping all goes well! On a significantly lighter note, I know April first is a long way away, but I forget, if I might make a suggestion, perhaps you should make a video on *Adolf H Uunona* from Nabima. There's a good it would go viral actually.

[@mikestone9129]

Contrary to what people say, Mobutu wasn't all bad. If he knew you, liked you and more important trusted you he could be a real friend and very generous.

[@EpicgamerwinXD6669]

@@mikestone9129 possibly, though I’m sure the trouble was staying in his good books for long of course, as is usually the case with dictators.

[@tonnie7079]

Tantalizing Story and so Nicely naratted. It's an eye opening documentary for our modern dictators, I like how you have done a deep research n video n images, I loved it 👍👌

[@PaulCharming]

Only discovered your channel yesterday. Great job Tatenda.

[@BrianChirchir-vv1cc]

interestingly lit🔥🔥🔥

[@frisco7203]

Love your work bro,keep it up 💯

[@mikestone9129]

I'd like to see a video about Holden Roberto, and the FNLA.

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@thomasholden3323]

Another really interesting video AB, is their anything video worthy about The Gambia i went as a kid in the 2000s it was a lovely place.

[@colinkabalata3953]

Excellent video

[@jackmashinge3697]

You are spot on-a well researched documentary

[@neotrinityrakgajane]

I love this channel so much

[@mcamara488]

Once more, thank you prof and be 🙏🏿

[@peterbradshaw8018]

One of few individuals to have chartered Concorde for personal use. Even building an airport near his home to accommodate it.

[@flak509]

I remember it well, he was a big name back in the day. It's extra interesting that not even the country's name survived his removal.

[@kudzaitandi5550]

Great content as always baba!

[@sauvignonblanc0]

This video is highly informative, well researched and excellently delivered. I am happy to stumble on it. I will view more. Thank you for your efforts.

[@bongumusagambu3610]

Great work👌

[@vernonmedia2010]

Please can you document Rwanda Genocide from the genesis to the end please 🙏🏻

[@obamabiden]

i think this channel mostly covers the stories of specific individuals rather than historical events, but the Paul Kagame video on this channel goes into some detail on Rwanda

[@AfricanBiographics]

Will do so

[@dudelony]

Very well made to give a Brief summary and to get an idea but this does not Paint a true picture of how tyrannic, cunning and machiavelic that man has been for RDC. the desolation in that country today has him this man has the principal Engineer for that.

[@imagine9033]

Thanks

[@martinmukonje6739]

Kindly consider making a video on South African true son of the soil, Bantu Holomisa, his place is clearly marked in the history books

[@bak2base]

Imagine you're delivering this in seriousness to an audience at, say, the U.N. You don't need background mood music to deliver an interesting thesis. The voice is the instrument. Anything else is intrusive, like a long-running interruption from an adjoining room.

[@jonathankaranja5857]

One of Mobutu's comments was: 'If you must steal, just steal a little...'😅

[@lemigod4475]

Since overthrow of Right Wing Dictaror Mobutu,Kagame now treats Congo as looting ground for minerals so he can build his Rwanda up at expense of destabilizing the Congo.If Kagame continues his dirty work in the Congo then he will also suffer another tragic demise like Mobutu,right now Congo is building a massive army and they are willing to go to War with Kagame to stop him once and for all. Anyways getting back to this Mobutu guy,his story is a reminder that nothing lasts forever,if you do so much harm to others then in the end you too will end up getting harmed.As they say you get what you give.

[@louisokorodudu3754]

Thank you for these vids.......its time we learn about our own history and not just that of the West

[@malikkimanimaasai3703]

You 4got the part where mobutu killed lumumba...

[@obamabiden]

id been hoping for a video on Mobutu from this channel for a while, and it was more than worth the wait another excellent and informative biography

[@alkalidaggash3419]

Very interesting story

[@djamaltanko5121]

Africa should unite and free congo and also the intire Africa

[@LarzGustafsson]

Mobuto was guilty. He had Lumumba killed.

[@englishsteel-nz6im]

Mobutu was the archetype that comedy films would base an "African Dictator" on lmao.

[@mrmark974]

Mobutu Mobutu, what a tragic end.

[@adamwilder2943]

What a horrible dictator indeed.

[@rhandzananifargo7073]

Can you do a video about TRC in South Africa 🇿🇦?

[@mourice1669]

Wow this guy was Greedy

[@wesleykanyingi3897]

A demon in human form

[@mbp7060]

I'm seeing a pattern and all the players have my skin color. It's highly disappointing and shameful seeing what these brothers do.

[@lisatjejamba7881]

Ssvimbi was true fighter

[@user-wx2in5bm3c]

One thing that I don't understand until now is that, former president of zaire mobutu seseseko was a doctor to his home country or he was a dictator against western countries?

[@Tonyslgb]

Mobutu’s positives: bulwark against communism. The rest is at least questionable. A good example of how Western powers rule and influence the development of emerging countries. Yeah, we would allow a local Stalin so far he is not communist 😬

[@shauncameron8390]

Mobutu wasn't against communism as much as he was against the USSR. He idolized Mao and embraced Chinese-styled communism.

[@nnfefe9451]

He was rumored to be a cannibal but then there are always strange bed fellows if the other's self interest is on the table.

[@southernicedtea9925]

What is any of them gonna do about the child slaves. And forced labor work camps?

[@jonathankaranja5857]

Though I am not a supporter of Mobutu's tyranny, I tend to think that the name 'Zaïre' was cool.😎 I wish the current govt. of that country would revert to that name (Zaïre).

[@nunyabiznis8015]

Bit by bit I’m learning why Kagame (President of Rwanda) is always linked to doing bad things to Congo. Not saying it’s true or isn’t true but time & time again Congo supports & supported Hutu Rebels.

[@generalkago5361]

ZAIRE ( now DRC ) remains desolate todate. Virtually ZERO TARMAC ROADS. CORRUPTION is official in DRC. To take your Truck 🚒 to this dangerous/lawless gangster Country, you cough USD 950 to drive on rhino charge like roads.

[@trigonosefal2141]

No french Mbappe joke ? Quite weird innit

[@tahafarah1611]

A man of limited intelligence who got acquainted with Machiavilli’s evil philosophy at an impressionable age and was seduced by it. The rest is history

[@hadjaraboube3714]

Africa needs to rewrite its own history. Most African presidents called dictators have challenged France terrorist state. French speaking African have never gained independence.

[@nathanielsibanda4789]

Dont 4get the gukurahundi genocide its always forgotten also zipra army documentation 😢

[@emanuelbufole17]

Mobutu is a product of Lumumba's ignorance with very severe consequences for our country, only one conclusion is true: we were not ready to run our countries in a modern fashion.

[@nomahope3182]

This is an interesting comment. What do you mean Lumumba's ignorance?

[@emanuelbufole17]

The 30th June 1960 was a ceremonial day of transferring or giving control of the country back to Congolese but Lumumba turned this day into a day of propaganda therefore antagonizing the Belgians and all participants of the round table of Brussels. When the Congolese army mutined and put the country in a lawless situation where the soldiers were killing, looting and rapping the white Lumumba sided with them and find a way to double cross the round table by taking control of the army by sacking general Emil Yassen to replace him with Mobutu a man who never has been an officer and that action scared away the white and created panic among other politicians which resulted in the breakaway of the province of Katanga as Moise Tshombe and company didn't feel accommodated even safe in this chaos so was their solution and they had the right to rule their land. Judge by yourself now because that speech was written by madame Collette Braeckman and he was squeezed on that podium by Jean Van lierde two whites of leftist or communist tendency is that wise and to our people's interests? Placing Mobutu at that position was that a wise move? Lumumba was just 36 years old and had less than 5 years experience in politics was that enough to run our Country? When one white family returned back to Belgium 3 black families went unemployed do the math and tell me the level of harm this man did to us. Finally is DRC doing well? Don't let this blind and ignorant world misled you coz the truth is always hidden so need seeking.

[@emanuelbufole17]

@@nomahope3182 Lumumba had this strong aura and easily blind people but the reality is that he had less than 5 years in politics when he became prime minister, he was only 30 years old when he started politics , he didn't have his own ideology that why he surrounded himself with these white leftists if you know well that part i can even name them and they are the ones that misled him. The ceremony of independence was a mere day of transition but Lumumba turned it into a day of propaganda with madame Collette Breackman writing that speech and Jean van lierd squeezing him to the podium to create trouble. He politisized the army by appointing his personal secretary Mobutu as the army chief and we all know the rest of the story and so on.

[@GNM6752]

Not Zai RE😂

[@lorincowell6944]

"Post-Colonial:" talk about a specious term! Just because Churchill famously valued glory over profit does not mean the 'change' hurt the Empire: . All those things, like funding police, transportation, public works, education... proving a place was a colony, were terminated or severely decreased. Radical Capitalist austerity. Better for the Bottom Line and the 'significant' representatives of Empire. And they still 'owned' the resources and the debt... grew and grew.

[@EphraimWekesa-je7gy]

Mobutu He was not Dictator.

[@Joe-tr2vk]

Says someone from Gbadolite😅

[@cleanup7773]

Treacherous snake, long live Patrice Lamumba.

[@Pinocchio420]

Love the channel but too hard to understand the narrator 👎

[@Beloved5]

Many thanx Tate for the Mobutu and the Zaire biographics. Now I see where that part of the continent is coming from , why it is where it is and what is likely to happen in the future