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Congo
Cure for the Demagogue's Disease
Congo, formerly Zaire
Joseph Kasavubu:
1960–1965 first President.
Years of political and military strife and regional secessionist fighting paralyze government.
Kasavubu’s prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, “dismisses” President Kasavubu.
Army commander Joseph Mobutu seizes power, reinstates Kasavubu, and Lumumba is killed.
1964 Kasavubu authorizes European mercenaries against the leftist rebels.
1965 Mobutu by coup puts himself in as head of state.
        Kasavubu dies in 1969.
Mobutu Sese Seko
1965–1997                32 years                1971
In by coup.
Brutally executes dissidents and prohibites opposition candidates.
He amasses one of largest personal fortunes in the world leaving his once wealthy country now in shambles, broken
and impoverished.
Out by rebellion in 1997, flees into exile.
        Died in exile in 1997.

Laurent Desire Kabila:
1997–2001
Leads rebel army to oust Mobutu.
1998 Africa’s “World War” begins: 3 million killed, 2 million left homeless,
North Korea troops help Kabila stay in power. Congo’s vast natural resources, diamonds, gold, oil and timber are
looted and pillaged to pay for enormous quantities of war weapons. Total collapse of economy. Soldiers resort to
extortion, looting and torture. Rape and murder of women and children is a weapon of war. Abduction and forced
recruitment into the armed forces of young children.  Kabila does not want to stop the bloodshed for fear he will be
ousted. He thwarts attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to his starving people. International aid agencies depart for fear
of their own safety, leaving 16 million without food, and half the country with no safe drinking water. 1/3 of the
children have chronic malnutrition. Epidemics spread cholera, meningitis, dysentery, malaria, hemorrhagic fever and
AIDS.
He brutally suppresses any opposition.
2001 Kabila is assassinated.

Joseph Kabila:
2001–2006
Succeeds to Presidency following the assassination of his father.
2002 He begins reforms. Rebel and foreign troops withdraw.
2004 Two unsuccessful coup attempts against him.

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