The people of the Congo were exploited for rubber
The Belgians chopped off the arms of the families of workers that did not work enough.
When leaving they left no infrastructure
No structured Education
No Farming/Agricultural supply of food.
Left a Power Vacuum
Mobutu & Kabila
Mobutu
He establishes education, food and other needed infrastructure.
Kleptocracy - A government that steals from the people.
He places his relatives are put into power
He steals all of the money that comes into the Congo
Using the money that comes in from Copper Export
Establishes Zaire ( renames the Congo )
He takes control of the media and deems himself the Messiah ( savior of the people )
He was Extremely rich since he stole a lot of money
The economy is starting to fall due to Copper is not as much.
IMF offers millions to reform Zaire, Mobutu accepts, but pockets the money
Laurent Kabila
He is leading a revolutionary group, but sets up in Rwanda so he does not get killed
He sets up in Rwanda due to the Civil War ongoing there.
Tutsis were in power since they were lighter skinned and the Germans preferred them
Hutus escape to parts of Zaire in small refugee camps
He promises Tutsi teenagers who get to kill Hutus.
He uses the army of teenagers who like him and use them to take over the government and chase Mobutu Out.
After he takes the country over he realizes that there is too many economic problems, and he had to kick out the Tutsis
His Tutsi bodyguards assassinate him
Kabila changes the name back to the Democratic Republic of Congo
The UN wants to get involved, but can't really do anything.
Joseph Kabila gets elected as president legitimately
Elected for 2 Terms but still president now, since he did not step down.
Communists and America:
America supported Mobutu since he was not a communist.
China starts to get involved after Kabila gets power, and is trying to decide whether they should abuse the nation or attempt to help him.