DICTATORS IN THE CONGO / ZAIRE BY : NATE PARKS-SMITH, ELAINE LOOSE

WHAT IS A DICTATOR? A INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ABSOLUTE POWER AND UNRESTRICTED CONTROL IN A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT HEREDITARY SUCCESSION

MAJOR DICTATORS Laurent Kabila Leader of the rebellion that overthrew Mobutu in the May of After Mobutu had renamed the country Zaire (1971), Kabila had founded the people's revolutionary party. Laurent rallied forces. This cause Mobutu to flee the country. Laurent Kabila pronounced himself as president and changed the country's name to Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph-Desiré Mobutu Educated by a missionary led school Career kicked off joining the Belgium Congolese army October 1971 he changed the name of the country to Zaire Considered himself a warrior helping the country He used money to try to befriend potential enemies

Why has Zaire/Congo been a victim to many different dictators Different political views in the government Big struggle for power The Congo will remain a "battlefield" Many wars concerning civil rights. A dictator can only rule for 5 years each

IMPACT AND EFFECTS ECONOMICALLY LARGE COMMERCIAL COMPANIES CONTROL THE ECONOMY WILD RUBBER TREES AND IVORY CAUSED A BIG SPIKE IN THE ECONOMY THE RUBBER STARTED TO BE LESS VALUABLE. EX: IN KANGAROO THEY FOUND VERY VALUABLE MINERALS AND STARTED MINING COMPANIES. PROSPEROUS TIMES FOR THE ECONOMY POLITICALLY U.S. EMBASSY INITIATED CONTACTS WITH THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL POWER OF ZAIRE US, FRANCE, BELGIUM CUT DEVELOPMENT AID AND DOWNGRADED DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS TO PRESSURE MOBUTU TO LET GO OF HIS POWER U.S. DISTANCED ITSELF FROM OPPOSITION LEADERS SOCIALLY THE MAJORITY OF CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES TAKE CHARGE OF THE EDUCATION THEY DO NOT SUCCEED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL STRUCTURE NO BLACK OR WHITE PERSON COULD VOTE BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A GOVERNMENT. SHORTLY AFTER THEY HELD ELECTIONS FOR A NEW "PRESIDENT" OFTEN WOULD BE A DICTATORSHIP

HOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONDED TO EACH OF THE MAJOR DICTATORS AND THEIR EFFECTS MOBUTU AND KABILA: VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS GREATLY LEGITIMIZING A CORRUPT INEPT GOVERNMENT KABILA'S GOVERNMENT HAS USED VIOLENCE, CORRUPTION, AND CRONYISM TO MAINTAIN POWER U.N. PEACEKEEPERS ALLOW KABILA TO DISREGARD HIS GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES