MOBUTU SESE SEKO
(Joseph-Désiré Mobutu | Mobuto)
This is a common rejoinder of third world country leaders to accusations of Western democracies about corruption. And doubtless it is true. However temptation has never been a good defense of improper behavior.
Mobutu with Amerucan CIA and French assistance deposed Lumumba, murdered him, and seized power.
There was no semblance of democracy on Zaire. When he was more candid, Mobutu opposed democracy for Africa. See {628027}.
Corruption was rife in the Congo before the French or Belgians ever arrived there. However, it is the case that French business and diplomatic culture is much more tolerant of third world corruption than most other industrial democracies and actively engage in bribery efforts to a degree that other nations do not.
He urged moderation for his officials, but stole huge amounts for himself.
He was justifying the millions he was spending on state official functions when most of the people were in abject poverty. He didn’t know his people well enough. They overthrew him and sent him into exile.
At the same time he was stealing billions from the public coffers.
Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga (/məbuːˈtuː ˈsɛseɪ ˈsɛkoʊ/; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997), commonly known as Mobutu Sese Seko or simply just Mobutu, was a Congolese politician and military officer who was the president of Zaire from 1965 to 1997 (known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1971).
