"The Quest for Power I, Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Zabanga, elected president of the Popular Movement of the Revolution and rightfully President of the Republic, I swear to observe the constitution and the laws of the Republic of Zaire." "I must be frank with you." "My youth was stormy because I wasn't easy-going." "First of all I had modest roots..." "The son of a cook for the Catholic missionaries in the equatorial rain forest." "So the young corporal turned up in my office... secretary Mobutu." "He was a thin young man at the time, very relaxed and very engaging." "We took him on to work on our army newspaper because we needed someone who was fluent in Lingala." "And he did that very well." "And we even authorised him, in connection with his work, to mix with journalistic circles in Kinshasa... or Leopoldville as it was then called." "That's how he got to know many local figures." "The Congolese were especially delighted that day." "All were well-dressed." "Many were accompanied by their wives." "A Congolese couple visits the Expo by rickshaw." "Off they go, smiling and elated by all they see." "You represent the native viewpoint in the daily L'Avenir." "L'Avenir... yes." "And what is the native reaction to your articles and the paper?" "The reaction is subtle, because if today I take a position on a specific issue, my readers agree with me." "I'll give you an example." " Yes." "Three months ago, I took a stand on the wages issue." "All my readers were with me when I said wages were too low." "The next day, when I said my readers should be moderate in their demands... I was suddenly a traitor to the Congolese cause." "Being a journalist isn't all fun and games, I see." "You can see in cases like this that the public fluctuates." "'Drama events in Leopoldville, 35 black dead and several Europeans wounded'" "He certainly had" "feelings of rancour towards colonialism..." "Probably the same feelings that Lumumba expressed..." "Perhaps less intense, but basically the same." "Don't forget he was Lumumba's close collaborator." "He met Lumumba when Lumumba was in prison." "He went to interview him for the African news services." "And he became a sort of secretary to Lumumba." "As a journalist, this meeting with Lumumba inspired me to focus on politics above all else." "When Lumumba came to talk to the Belgian authorities about national independence, as I was there, he made me his personal secretary." "After the months of struggle, we must now turn our efforts towards the elimination of all vestiges of colonialism that were the scourge of the 20th century... especially by the immediate eradication of all the racial discrimination and unjust laws" "imposed by the colonial regime." "During the round table talks, many students were called to help the African leaders." "And Lumumba was one of the most popular." "But there were also a great many who were more discreet," "Mobutu among them." "And he was always there on the sidelines." "But at the time, we didn't see him as someone dangerous or particularly significant." "We saw him as a little man trying to gain recognition, in the shadow of a great man." "'Belgium Gives the Congo its lndependence'" "Congolese people..." "my country and myself recognise with joy and emotion that on this 30 June 1960, and with Belgium's complete accord, the Congo achieves international independence and sovereignty." "The fact was, the army was without command." "In Lumumba's office, there was his secretary Mobutu." "He was the only man with a military bent." "So he looked around and said, you will take command of the army..." "And that's how he became commander-in-chief." "He was by chance in the right place at the right time when Lumumba took his decision." "He was the only one with military training." "He was assigned my position, as chief of staff of the army, called the ANC from that day on." "And I assumed my role as technical assistant..." "That is, I stayed in my office, and he was set up in the office of the commander-in-chief." "And we did what we could to straighten things out." "So after being your subordinate, you became his... I became his..." "I wouldn't say his deputy... his technical advisor, in theory." "No sooner was he made colonel than people tried to bribe him." "I won't mention any names, but there were many seeking favours, and in general they came loaded with presents." "He was quickly schooled in corruption... passively, if not actively." "From the beginning, instead of using military authority, he would try to arrange things with money... an envelope..." "Money works better than authority." "The army seizes power in ex-Belgian Congo." "Dear fellow citizens, this is Colonel Mobutu Joseph, Chief of Staff of the Congolese National Army, speaking to you from Leopoldville." "The Congolese National Army has decided to neutralise the chief of state until December 31, 1960." "As you can all see for yourselves as of tomorrow... this is not a coup d'état, but a peaceful revolution." "The army will help the country to resolve its problems which have become increasingly acute." "Long live the Congo!" "Long live the Congolese National Army!" "What is Mr Colonel Mobutu playing at?" "He was your right-hand man, was he not?" "Yes, he was my right-hand man... he was my secretary and Brussels attaché." "When the government was formed, I brought him here." "I gave him an important governmental position as presidential secretary of state." "Personally, I don't understand his actions." "He must keep his own conscience." "Do you believe in a future reconciliation?" "Frankly I am for reconciliation, imposed by the army if need be." "He says I am a loser." "But, on the contrary, the campaign against me is seen by the Congolese as a campaign against the overthrow of the government, and against the independence we have just achieved." "As soon as he could, he humiliated him as much as possible." "It was his way of getting back at his own childhood." "Yet Lumumba was his spiritual father?" "The man who made him chief of staff?" "He was the big man, while he was nothing." "So as soon as he saw his chance he humiliated him, and reduced him to nothing." "I am in conflict with Lumumba." "There were certain procedures I don't approve of." "For instance?" "He would go to a military camp without notifying me and grant nominations." "A corporal is made a lieutenant, a sergeant is made a major." "He signed before the troops without my knowledge." "This didn't make things easy." "And as I like order by nature, I re-established order." "That was how I dealt with it..." "Not against Lumumba, but because I don't like disorder." "And Lumumba is now missing?" " Yes, that's right." "'The people imposes justice Lumumba is dead'" "'Lumumba and his accomplices massacred by villagers'" "There was no power." "Power was non-existent." "So the army felt it was its duty to do something for... this country's prestige." "That's what we did." "And I think people were content ...and they should be content." "As the situation is now taking shape, the army has no call to further involve in any way." "That's what politicians are paid for." "They will have to buckle down to it." "We have no choice, we must forge ahead, even bargain with the devil, to rebuild the Congo's unity." "The Congo will remain one and indivisible." "I always have my troops at hand." "I will never be overcome by events." "You can be certain that order must reign, and will reign." "I am happy with this army, firstly because I feel I am a leader who is truly loved and heeded." "Every time I'm told there is trouble somewhere... I show up..." "and it's all over." "The troops were discouraged and demoralised at first." "And now their morale is at its summit." "I was with them, I spoke to them." "And they saw that their general wasn't just a leader in his office giving orders." "You followed the operation, where l risked my life." "And it will always be like that as long as I am in my post." "As a non-violent and a Christian you once said :" "I am compelled in all good conscience as a Christian and a man, to put an end to these atrocities." "Yes, I said that, and have repeated it many times." "You have saved European and African lives." "Since the day we gained our independence until the present, I have done nothing else." "Have you met with ingratitude?" "That is the lot of man." "Fortunately, you have your children." "And the little one there, is she your youngest?" "Yes, yes." " What's her name?" "Marie Antoinette, like her mother." "How much does she weigh?" "Or don't you know." "Six kilos, 600 grams." "Does she recognise you?" " Oh yes." "She wants to come." "She isn't your only child?" "I have six." " Goodness..." "Three boys and three girls." "You once said the army would no longer involve in politics, but that it was not compelled to obey a given government." "Isn't that a paradox?" "That is a paradox, but isn't it a contradiction?" "Yes, it may seem a paradox and a contradiction... but you must experience life in the republic first hand to understand what I mean by that." "Could the situation of September 1960, when the army neutralised the political leadership, reoccur?" "I don't believe so." "That is behind us." "Lieutenant General..." "Joseph Mobutu." "The present Major General, Mobutu, Joseph Désiré... is named Lieutenant General of the National Congolese Army..." "Major General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel..." "General Mobutu, in the present situation, is the army neutral?" "It is neutral, and it will remain so." "Till now we have noted..." "I say 'we', not 'l', that is, the military chiefs as a whole... that there is no discipline among our political leaders." "So for 5 years we are going to impose discipline on every level : political, economic and financial." "You will rapidly re-establish peace throughout the territory?" "That is the task we are undertaking." "And you will have a freer hand than under the politicians?" "Yes of course." "My whole army is with me." "Everything is now in the hands of General Mobutu." "In our democracies we don't hang politicians, or execute them." "Dear friend, let me remind you that we are not Europeans... we are not Westerners..." "we are Bantu." "Don't think that because Westerners colonised us we have become Westerners." "We remain Bantu, and we have our own moral code which isn't yours, and never will be yours." "So democracy as we understand it doesn't apply here in your view." "We can apply it, but not down to the letter." "What is the precise nuance?" "The nuance is that for us, respect for a chief is sacred." "You can't play around with a chief." "When a chief decides, he decides... that's it." "I decided in the name of the high command that we would be in power for 5 years." "And that's that." "It no longer behoves politicians to side with financiers to stir up disorder and unrest in the country." "That's what they did, and we had to make an example of them." "These hangings had a great meaning for everyone." "Because it was a clear signal to all politicians." "It said, I am the chief... I can hang anyone who doesn't agree." "No one will prevail." "I will remain the chief." "There was that sorry trial..." "sorry because it was slipshod." "But practically speaking, the result was that for 30 years we were untroubled." "Nobody ever tried to... ln Africa, in Leopoldville or Kinshasa, an episode like that... totally reprehensible in Western eyes..." "But practically speaking, for Mobutu, it was like the assassination of the Duc d'Enghien in the moat of the castle of Vincennes." "After that, there was no more plotting against Napoleon." "It's a bit like that." "He showed he was the undisputed chief." "That he was not someone to fool around with." "A day in memory of 30 June 1966." "Also a day of hope." "Glory and honour to this illustrious Congolese... this great African... the first martyr to economic independence," "Patrice Emeri Lumumba." "It was in this context that I went to Brazzaville." "I negotiated the return of Mulele with the guarantee that he would benefit from the declaration of amnesty." "General Bobozo and others came to my house and seized Mulele by force." "And took him to an unknown destination." "What became of him?" "Did you talk it over with the president?" "What became of Mulele then?" "Then they killed Mulele." "A leopard never attacks head on as a rule." "It doesn't rely on physical force." "Often people are walking and the leopard is in the trees." "He jumps on you from there." "He has a treacherous nature." "He knows how to manipulate human feelings like a man... he speaks like a man..." "but he is a wild animal... a cat." "And that will enable him to remain in power for a long time." "How can I describe this extraordinary fervour around the president of the republic, if not as a total adhesion to his policy, if not like a total popular plebiscitary." "The great river has become a royal cavalcade." "I am always among the people, explaining myself, accounting for my actions." "Because it is my judge..." "The only judge to whom I am accountable is my people." "He had great charisma." "He was a seducer." "He seduced everyone..." "white, black, yellow..." "Everyone was seduced by his attitude." "I felt Mobutu was a man who felt that cosmic forces were concentrated within him." "It was clearly a man who had the feeling that he was predestined, and drew on celestial forces." "Great pomp and ceremony at N'djilli for the departure of the president of the republic and Mrs Mobutu as they leave for the United States." "The next day in Washington, they are awaited ceremoniously on the lawn of the White House by the President and Mrs Nixon." "After a first friendly handshake, Mrs Nixon offers a bouquet of roses to Mrs Mobutu." "The President and Mrs Mobutu are the honoured guests of the President and Mrs Nixon." "Popular Movement of the Revolution" "Joseph Mobutu is the president and founder..." "'MPR, For Unity, Peace, Security We all follow one man'" "'MPR, serving one leader, one party, one nation'" "'Zaire Republic, one leader, one party, one nation'" "There is not a single party in the Congo." "We are a national party, not a single party." "A single party implies that something is imposed." "We don't impose anything." "A single party implies some type of opposition." "There is no opposition, I don't know..." "We need no opposition, we are Bantu." "We are not Cartesians like you are for an opposition." "As Senghor said, we are not a world for opposition." "We are there for juxtaposition." "We join together, build together, that's all." "'Action, not blah, blah'" "I would say that the MPR was a sort of octopus, so to speak... directing everything." "And that it went so far that one was born Zairian..." "one was born MPR." "And it was a sort of cohesive force... a way of controlling the country through the MPR." "To perpetuate the exploitation of the black man by the white, the colonisers systematically wiped out" "African traditions, languages and culture." "In short, totally negating the black man, so that he speaks, thinks, eats, dresses, laughs and breathes in the manner of the white man." "'The MPR's Mobutuist doctrine is the thought, the teachings and the acts of our guide Mobutu Sese Seko." "It is not enough to understand the doctrine, it must be in one's soul.'" "Mobutu Sese Seko Of his party, the MPR" "Of its founding president Mobutu Sese Seko... I am the one who created the term 'Mobutism'." "In fact, it was when he returned from Peking and P'Yong, ...from the Republic of China and North Korea." "The president was really struck by the personality cult." "By Mao's power and the power of Kim ll Sung." "Everyone was behind them." "He wanted to do the same thing here." "The MPR faction that backed him tried to make him a god on earth to consolidate power, so that it would endure." "So that no force could challenge him." "So it was a personality cult." "Everyone had to adopt his thinking... lt was Maoism." "They all went to China." "They brought back the Mao suit." "But since it wasn't entirely authentic, they invented an anti-suit... the 'abacost'." "They did all sorts of things like that..." "But with the sole intention of consolidating his power." "Eternal life" "We wish Mobutu eternal life" "And also his party, the MPR" "We sing for Mobutu" "For Mobutu redressed Zaire" "Eternal life" "We wish Mobutu eternal life" "And also his party, the MPR..." "MPR equals..." " To serve." "Serve oneself..." " No." "We will sing and dance... to honour our guide and express our love for him." "We will sing and dance... to honour our guide and express our love for him." "Authenticity... is our political philosophy." "We want to be ourselves... and not what others want us to be." "The Republic of Zaire..." " Peace, justice and work." "Zaire... is great, Zaire... is majesty." "Zaire... is authenticity." "Mobutu oyé" "Mobutu loves only work" "Mobutu is the most powerful" "Mobutu is the strongest" "Mobutu is the saviour" "Mobutu is the redresser" "Mobutu is the master builder" "Mobutu is the creator..." "The concentration of power, the praise, the glory, the popularity, the media all in the service of a single man... I did that, but I didn't know it was wrong at the time." "Then the Congo was like a great village wherever he went." "He wanted people to sing and dance in his honour." "Which I organised as the head of the party's political propaganda and coordination at the time." "He liked that, he loved that." "I took the photo of Mobutu, and put it in the clouds." "And before every TV news broadcast," "Mobutu emerged from the clouds like a god." "And children thought he was god, since he came out of the clouds." "Before every news broadcast." "He was so elated that he said :" "'That's what you must do..." "that's fine, carry on.'" "And I said I was doing it for the good of the country, 'Yes, carry on.'" "The courageous, the valiant" "Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Zabanga" "The courageous, the valiant" "Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Zabanga" "Take care of Zaire's children" "We wish you many years at Zaire's helm..." "What exactly do we mean by Mobutism?" "Briefly, it means the teachings, the thoughts and the acts of the MPR's founding president." "At one point, he no longer considered himself a man." "He had become a god."