Kongulu Mobutu

Kongulu Mobutu (c. 1970 – September 24, 1998) 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. He was described as "a stocky, bearded man with a taste for fast cars, gambling and women."

Early life

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 was described as "a stocky, bearded man with a taste for fast cars, gambling and women."[1]

Biography

Despotic activity

Contrary to public belief, Kongolo Mobutu Junior was never a Captain in the Special Presidential Division of Zaire (DSP). When he left The School for Officers Training (EFO) in Kananga, he started his career as Second Lieutenant in The Military Service for Action and Intelligence (SARM). As Captain, Junior was Personal Secretary of General Bolozi in SARM. He was General Bolozi's protegee. Bolozi is married to Junior Kongolu's aunt. 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".[2]

In his childhood at Camp Tshatshi, Junior was nicknamed "Gange". When he was about to finish his matric, his entourage nicknamed him "Vatican" as a state within a state. He did not like it. After an incident which put in him in trouble with his father about money laundering, he fled to Libya and Middle-East. President Mobutu sent a team of his guards to take Junior back home. They unsuccessfully returned home. From that short exile, Junior Kongolu Mobutu took the nickname of Saddam Hussein.

Business activity

Kongulu Mobutu was in charge of various businesses in Zaire, including shipping and import firms, entertainment Yoshad Productions. He exercised a strong influence onto the popular musical band Wenge Musica BCBG of Werrason, Jb Mpiana, Didier Masela. He reconciled Koffi Olomide and Jossart Nyoka Nlongo after a feud. 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.[3] 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.[4]

Flight from revolution

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.[5] 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.[6] Junior will be later clear of these accusions. It is revealed that Junior Kongolu was the one who came to cover General Mahele's body. He came after the action and senior Commanders of the DSP were present during assassination. Junior Kongolu had no influence on DSP soldiers. Kongulu fled across the border to Brazzaville later that day. He was the last most famous person of Mobutu's regime to leave Kinshasa on May 17, 1997 while rebels were almost 10 km away from the beach.

Death

Kongulu Mobutu died in exile in Monaco on September 24, 1998, aged 28.[7] Former Reuters journalist Michela Wrong has written that he and his brother Niwa died of AIDS.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Wrong, Michela (2001). In the footsteps of Mr Kurtz. Fourth Estate. ISBN 1-84115-422-9.
  2. ↑ Roxe, Hilary (Oct 5, 1998). "Milestones". Time. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Report of the Committee against Torture
  4. ↑ Congo Chronicle XII
  5. ↑ ReliefWeb: Briefing Kit for Democratic Republic of the Congo (the): Info-Zaire - No 125 Analysis Compiled on 13 Feb 2012
  6. ↑ French, Howard W. (May 18, 1997). "Mobutu's Son Lingers, Reportedly Settling Scores". The New York Times (KINSHASA, Zaire). Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Kongulu Mobutu, Late dictator's son". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. FindArticles. Sep 26, 1998. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
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