Mobutu Sesé Seko And The Evolution Of Comprador Bourgeoisie in Africa

Mobutu Sesé Seko ranks tops on the list of African dictators. A comprador-bourgeoisie is a person who acts as an agent for foreign governments and organizations to enslave his/her people.

Mobutu is one of comprador-bourgeoisie who aided the colonial masters in enslaving the people of DR Congo.

Africa has had its fair share of dictators and tyrants. Sadly, the continent continues to suffer in the hands of these leaders. But when we speak of Mobutu Sesé Seko, one cannot deny he is one of the fierce dictators Africa has ever seen.

Mobutu was the leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo for 32 years. During this time, the country suffered from brutal iron-fist leadership.

He took over power immediately after the murder of DR Congo's independence hero, Patrice Émery Lumumba. He also served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity from 1967 to 1968. There are still allegations that connect him to the death of the African Pan-African leader.

Patrice Émery Lumumba fought for not only the independence of DR Congo but the liberation of Africa in general. He chose death over slavery and laid his life as a price for standing up for Africa.

Like was the case in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and other African countries which participated in the Independence struggle, the colonial masters used someone from the inside against Patrice Emile Lumumba.

The comprador-bourgeoisie responsible for the betrayal of Patrice Emile Lumumba and slavery of the people of DR Congo was Mobutu Sesé Seko.

Without surprise, he became president of the country. The 32 years in which he ruled the country is regarded by many as the worst patch in DR Congo's history.

According to African Facts, he was to be mandatorily shown descending from the clouds like a god before the day's evening news broadcast.

Mobutu treated DR Congo as personal property and is on record to be one of the most lavish presidents Africa has ever seen.

Public records reveal that Mobutu sent the national airline 32 TIMES to Venezuela to ferry 5,000 sheep for his ranch.

One time, when his wife forgot a fashion magazine in France, he sent the plane he flew into Kinshasa with back to France solely to bring back the magazine.

Apart from being responsible for countless charges of deaths and human rights abuses, Mobutu sucked the country dry.

He embezzled the country's treasury to the point that his unverified fortune was £6.3bn. This amount was equivalent to the entire debt of DR Congo at that time.

With his name, Mobutu Sesé Seko meaning "ETERNAL MOBUTU", he saw himself as a god and compelled the citizens to treat him as such.

It is disheartening that DR Congo had to endure such leadership for 32 years.

Today, many citizens in the country turn at the mention of his name. History regards him as a dictator and one of Africa's earliest comprador-bourgeoisie.

The sad reality is that there is still a significant presence of comprador-bourgeoisie among us, and they sit in top government offices across Africa.

What are your thoughts?

Header Image Credit: BBC