Mobutu Sese Seko

In 1968, [[Pierre Mulele]], Lumumba's Minister of Education and a rebel leader during the 1964 [[Simba rebellion]], was lured out of exile in [[Brazzaville]] on the belief that he would receive amnesty. Instead, he was tortured and killed by Mobutu's forces. While Mulele was still alive, his eyes were gouged out, his genitals were ripped off, and his limbs were amputated one by one.<ref>Wrong, Michela (2002). ''In The Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo''. Perennial. {{ISBN|0-06-093443-3}}. p. 90</ref>

In 1968, [[Pierre Mulele]], Lumumba's Minister of Education and a rebel leader during the 1964 [[Simba rebellion]], was lured out of exile in [[Brazzaville]] on the belief that he would receive amnesty. Instead, he was tortured and killed by Mobutu's forces. While Mulele was still alive, his eyes were gouged out, his genitals were ripped off, and his limbs were amputated one by one.<ref>Wrong, Michela (2002). ''In The Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo''. Perennial. {{ISBN|0-06-093443-3}}. p. 90</ref>

Mobutu later switched to a new tactic, buying off political rivals. He used the slogan "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer still"<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-09-15-voa8/323431.html Influential Africans: Mobutu Sese Seko], [[Voice of America]], 31 October 2009</ref> to describe his tactic of co-opting political opponents through bribery. A favorite Mobutu tactic was to play "musical chairs", rotating members of his government, switching the cabinet roster constantly to ensure that no one would pose a threat to his rule. Between November 1965 and April 1997, Mobutu reshuffled his cabinet 60 times.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The frequent cabinet reshuffles as intended encouraged insecurity in his ministers, who knew that the mercurial Mobutu would reshuffle his cabinet with no regard for efficiency and competence on the part of his ministers.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The frequency that men entered and left the cabinet also encouraged gross corruption because ministers never knew how long they might be in office, thus encouraging them to steal as much as possible while they were in the cabinet.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} Another tactic was to arrest and sometimes torture dissident members of the government, only to later pardon them and reward them with high office.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The Congolese historian Emizet F. Kisangani wrote: "Most public officials knew that regardless of their inefficiency and degree of corruption, they could reenter the government. To hold a government position required neither a sense of management nor a good conscience. On most occasions, effectiveness and a good conscience were major obstacles to political advancement. Mobutu demanded absolute personal allegiance in return for the opportunity to accumulate wealth".{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} As early as 1970, it was estimated that Mobutu had stolen 60% of the national budget that year, marking him as one of the most corrupt leaders in Africa and the world.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} Kisangani wrote that Mobutu created a system of [[institutional corruption]] that greatly debased public morality by rewarding venality and greed.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=355-356}}

Mobutu later switched to a new tactic, buying off political rivals. He used the slogan "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer still"<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-09-15-voa8/323431.html Influential Africans: Mobutu Sese Seko], [[Voice of America]], 31 October 2009</ref> to describe his tactic of co-opting political opponents through bribery. A favorite Mobutu tactic was to play "musical chairs", rotating members of his government, switching the cabinet roster constantly to ensure that no one would pose a threat to his rule. Between November 1965 and April 1997, Mobutu reshuffled his cabinet 60 times.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The frequent cabinet reshuffles as intended encouraged insecurity in his ministers, who knew that the mercurial Mobutu would reshuffle his cabinet with no regard for efficiency and competence on the part of his ministers.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The frequency that men entered and left the cabinet also encouraged gross corruption because ministers never knew how long they might be in office, thus encouraging them to steal as much as possible while they were in the cabinet.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} Another tactic was to arrest and sometimes torture dissident members of the government, only to later pardon them and reward them with high office.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} The Congolese historian Emizet F. Kisangani wrote: "Most public officials knew that regardless of their inefficiency and degree of corruption, they could reenter the government. To hold a government position required neither a sense of management nor a good conscience. On most occasions, effectiveness and a good conscience were major obstacles to political advancement. Mobutu demanded absolute personal allegiance in return for the opportunity to accumulate wealth".{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} As early as 1970, it was estimated that Mobutu had stolen 60% of the national budget that year, marking him as one of the most corrupt leaders in Africa and the world.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=356}} Kisangani wrote that Mobutu created a system of [[institutional corruption]] that greatly debased public morality by rewarding venality and greed.{{sfn|Kisangani|2016|p=355–356}}

In 1972, Mobutu tried unsuccessfully to have himself named [[president for life]].<ref>Young and Turner, p. 211</ref> In June 1983, he raised himself to the rank of [[Marshal]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/19/Mobutu-grants-amnesty-to-political-prisoners-in-Zaire/5205422164800/|title=Mobutu grants amnesty to political prisoners in Zaire|website=UPI|access-date=3 August 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194447/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/19/Mobutu-grants-amnesty-to-political-prisoners-in-Zaire/5205422164800/|url-status=live}}</ref> the order was signed by General Likulia Bolongo. [[Victor Nendaka Bika]], in his capacity as Vice-President of the Bureau of the Central Committee, second authority in the land, addressed a speech filled with praise for President Mobutu.

In 1972, Mobutu tried unsuccessfully to have himself named [[president for life]].<ref>Young and Turner, p. 211</ref> In June 1983, he raised himself to the rank of [[Marshal]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/19/Mobutu-grants-amnesty-to-political-prisoners-in-Zaire/5205422164800/|title=Mobutu grants amnesty to political prisoners in Zaire|website=UPI|access-date=3 August 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194447/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/19/Mobutu-grants-amnesty-to-political-prisoners-in-Zaire/5205422164800/|url-status=live}}</ref> the order was signed by General Likulia Bolongo. [[Victor Nendaka Bika]], in his capacity as Vice-President of the Bureau of the Central Committee, second authority in the land, addressed a speech filled with praise for President Mobutu.