14. Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko, born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu in 1930, seized power in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1965, ruling for over three decades. He established a one-party state under the Popular Movement of the Revolution, renamed the country to Zaire in 1971, and changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, meaning “the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake.” His regime was marked by widespread corruption, with estimates of his personal wealth ranging from $50 million to $5 billion, leading to the term “kleptocracy” to describe his rule. Mobutu’s authoritarian governance and economic mismanagement had a profound and lasting impact on the country’s development. For a comprehensive profile, visit Britannica (britannica.com).
