Belgium
"The US played a major role in converting the newly independent Congo into a Cold War battleground. The US administration in the 1960s authorised the murder of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who had been voted into office just months earlier in the territory's first-ever democratic election. Washington, who was instrumental in helping Mobutu Seso Seko to power and kept him there for more than 30 years, bears heavy responsibility for the disastrous economic conditions, massive corruption, and suppression of human rights in the Congo." This is an exert from the bookIn the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in the Congo. The book goes on to state that the USA and others believed Motubu to be the "last line of defense" against the soviets, whom they feared would take power in the Congo. Foreign companies, which is what your question revolved around, funded Motubu along with the CIA because the previous leader, Lumumba, was a total communist who wanted to throw them all out. Incidentally, Lumumba was cheered on by the west as someone who would end the chaotic riots and militancy in the Congo and unite the country, but then he showed his true political alignment so ultimately they paid the Congolese to give him the royal boot.
There are currently 2 'Congo's . The larger, more southerly is what used to be Belgian Congo and is now Democratic Republic of Congo. To the northwest of this is the Republic of Congo, sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville.
Dom Afonso was concerned with the corruption of the leaders that Portugal sent over to the Congo. He was concerned by their licentiousness and their inability to rule. Due to the incompetence of the Vassals sent over, the people of the Congo were starving. Not only were they starving but the soon to boom slave trade had just begin and he was facing depopulation.
Congo was colonized by the Belgians, and in 1882, the International Association of the Congo was created as a company to govern the country. Native people were forced to work for the company under cruel and inhumane conditions.
republic of Congo
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu was known for his authoritarian rule in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He centralized power, suppressed political opposition, and promoted a cult of personality through propaganda and symbolism. His regime was marked by corruption, extravagance, and human rights abuses.
Joseph Mobutu was the leader of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over thirty years. Many considered him to be a ruthless dictator with no morals.
mobutu
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was known as the Republic of Zaire until 1997. The change was made because Joseph-Desire Mobutu, a corrupt and hated dictator, had changed the country's name to Zaire when he took power in 1971. Changing the name back to Congo after Mobutu was removed from power was seen as a symbolic new start.
I like these kind of websites but I would rather look it up on another website
He was in office from 24 November 1965 - 16 May 1997
The invaders from Rwanda invaded Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) during Mobutu Sese Seko`s tenure as president. The attackers had trained in Congo, and used it as a route to Zaire from their home country.
*The Congo was exploited by Belgium and it left unprepared for independence which occurred in 1960. *After independence civil war breaks out between rebel groups, nationalists and communists. *The military, led by Mobutu Sese Seko seize power in 1965. *Sese changes the country's name from The Congo to Zaire. Zaire should be a rich country because of its mineral wealth and natural resources but under Mobutu it becomes one of the continent's poorest. Mobutu is overthrown in 1997 and the country is left poverty stricken.
The name is MOBUTU (not MUBUTU)Also called Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga,original name Joseph (-Désiré) Mobutu president of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), who seized power in a 1965 coup and ruled for some 32 years before being ousted in a rebellion in 1997.
He was the President of Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997. Supported by the Belgians and USA ( in one of their most bizarre political moves) he renamed Congo to Zaire and amassed great wealth by screwing his countries finances.