Overview
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
(1939—2001) African statesman
Quick Reference
(b. 1 Jan 1958 d. 16 Jan 2001).
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1997–2001 Born in Moba, Shaba province, he went to France to study philosophy. He returned to Congo in 1960, but after the military coup of 1961 became a leading figure of the underground movement. He opposed the Mobutu regime from the beginning, but was unsuccessful at rallying sufficient resources in finance and manpower to succeed. In 1996, finally, he founded a broad coalition movement named the Alliance for the Liberation of Congo‐Zaïre. His forces were increasingly successful against the ailing Mobutu, and in 1997 he took the capital, Kinshasa. He proclaimed himself President on 29 May 1997. Hopes that Kabila would create democratic rule and end the corruption of his predecessors, however, were soon dashed, as he amassed more and more powers. His consequent failure to integrate different groups into his government led to the continuation of the civil war. He was murdered by a bodyguard, and succeeded by his son, Joseph Kabila.
