Kongulu Mobutu
Encyclopedia
Kongulu Mobutu was a son of Mobutu Sese Seko
, President
of Zaire
(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
), and an officer in the Special Presidential Division
.
As a Captain in the Special Presidential Division of Zaire
(DSP), Kongulu Mobutu was a key enforcer in the final years of his father's despotic
regime; his brutal treatment of political opponents earned him the nickname "Saddam Hussein
".
Kongulu Mobutu was in charge of various businesses in Zaire, including shipping and import firms. He and his father were key in establishing JFPI Corporation
as Africa's largest private holding company. According to a former employee, quoted in a United Nations
report, one of his companies, Hyochade, acted as a front for extortion, state propaganda and surveillance of political opponents. The German ZDF network's investigative program Kennzeichen D has claimed that Kongulu participated in the siphoning off of the national wealth by helping to organize the secret movement of gold to Gambia during the Nineties.
In April 1997, as forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila
advanced towards Zaire's capital, Kinshasa
, it is alleged that Kongulu Mobutu compiled a list of 500 of his father's opponents who were to be assassinated. When troops entered the city on May 17, Defense Minister, General Marc Mahele Lieko Bokungu tried to negotiate and was shot dead; it has been claimed that Kongulu had a role in his killing. Kongulu fled across the border to Brazzaville
later that day with the help of his father's long-time diamond advisor, M'zée Fula-Ngenge
.
Kongulu Mobutu died in exile in Monaco
on September 24, 1998, aged 28. Former Reuters
journalist Michela Wrong has written that he and his brother Niwa died of AIDS
.
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
), and an officer in the Special Presidential Division
Special Presidential Division
The Special Presidential Division was an elite military force created by Zairian president Mobutu Sese Seko in 1985 and charged with his personal security...
.
Biography
Kongulu (also known as Kongolo) was one of the seventeen children of President Mobutu Sese Seko. His mother was the President's first wife Marie-Antoinette Mobutu, who died in 1977. He has been described as "a stocky, bearded man with a taste for fast cars, gambling and women."As a Captain in the Special Presidential Division of Zaire
Special Presidential Division
The Special Presidential Division was an elite military force created by Zairian president Mobutu Sese Seko in 1985 and charged with his personal security...
(DSP), Kongulu Mobutu was a key enforcer in the final years of his father's despotic
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
regime; his brutal treatment of political opponents earned him the nickname "Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
".
Kongulu Mobutu was in charge of various businesses in Zaire, including shipping and import firms. He and his father were key in establishing JFPI Corporation
JFPI Corporation
JFPI Corporation is an international closed-end investment and economic empowerment conglomerate based in Africa.While 100% of the shares are owned by private individuals, it is managed by a 53-member Board of Directors, representing each nation contained by Africa.JFPI promotes the growth of...
as Africa's largest private holding company. According to a former employee, quoted in a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
report, one of his companies, Hyochade, acted as a front for extortion, state propaganda and surveillance of political opponents. The German ZDF network's investigative program Kennzeichen D has claimed that Kongulu participated in the siphoning off of the national wealth by helping to organize the secret movement of gold to Gambia during the Nineties.
In April 1997, as forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17, 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, until his assassination by his bodyguards on January 18, 2001...
advanced towards Zaire's capital, Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, it is alleged that Kongulu Mobutu compiled a list of 500 of his father's opponents who were to be assassinated. When troops entered the city on May 17, Defense Minister, General Marc Mahele Lieko Bokungu tried to negotiate and was shot dead; it has been claimed that Kongulu had a role in his killing. Kongulu fled across the border to Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
later that day with the help of his father's long-time diamond advisor, M'zée Fula-Ngenge
André A. Jackson
André Action Diakité Jackson , , more commonly known by his African clan name "M’Zée Fula-Ngenge" , is a diamond industrialist and head of JFPI Corporation, Africa's largest holding company....
.
Kongulu Mobutu died in exile in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
on September 24, 1998, aged 28. Former Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
journalist Michela Wrong has written that he and his brother Niwa died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.