Joseph Mobutu

Lumumba was assassinated on January 17, 1961. The CIA had already selected DRC's next leader: Joseph Mobutu, “the only man in the Congo able to act with firmness,” as per Dulles advice to President Eisenhower. Capitalism won. Communism lost. Today, even in former communist strongholds, one ...

The struggle between President Joseph Kasavubu, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, Army chief Joseph Mobutu and secessionist leader Moise Tshombe which saw the return of Belgian troops on one side – and a heavy influx of mercenaries and arms traders – may seem old history but can explain the ...

The struggle between President Joseph Kasavubu, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, Army chief Joseph Mobutu and secessionist leader Moise Tshombe which saw the return of Belgian troops on one side -- and a heavy influx of mercenaries and arms traders -- may seem old history but can explain the ...

Congolese politician and first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of Congo Patrice Emery Lumumba was assassinated on this day in 1961 at the age of 36. Today marks 57 years after his death which was felt all over Africa and the world as he was filmed in captivity and manhandled by ...

Five years after independence, Joseph Mobutu, the leader of the Congolese army, took power in a bloodless coup. Mobutu's rule was greeted with optimism but ended in a catastrophic decline in state services after he embezzled international development funds. Thirty-seven years after the coup, Mobutu ...

Unexpectedly, Colonel Joseph Mobutu appeared in this crowd. He was dressed in civilian clothes and told us that he was disgusted with recent events and wanted our help in leaving the country. Rajeshwar Dayal, the newly-arrived head of our operation and I exhorted Mobutu to stand by his fledgling nation in its hour of ...