Word: mobutuism
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
LIBREVILLE, Gabon: Mobutu Sese Seko emerged from a summit of his francophone allies insisting he would return to Kinshasa and hold elections while finally acknowledging he is too ill to be a candidate. But as night fell in Gabon, the presidential plane still sat in the Libreville airport. The possibility remains that despite his protestations, the 66-year-old dictator will end his 32-year reign by flying not south to Kinshasa but north to France. "Even if Mobutu does fly to France, he will almost certainly still be vowing to return to Zaire," says TIME's Peter Graff from...
KINSHASA, Zaire: As Mobutu Sese Seko continued what many believe could be a permanent absence from Zaire, the battle for Kinshasa began in earnest. After taking three-quarters of Zaire with little or no resistance from demoralized government troops, Laurent Kabila's rebel forces are now locked in an unexpectedly bloody battle in Kenge, 120 miles east of the capital. Reportedly 300 people, including 100 civilians, have already been killed. Kinshasa's defense has reportedly been joined by Rwandan and Angolan mercenaries propping up Mobutu's tattered forces. Rebels also said French mercenaries were holding down Kinshasa's airport. Kabila...
KINSHASA, Zaire: Mobutu Sese Seko's abrupt announcement that he will leave Kinshasa for a Wednesday meeting in Gabon with friend and longtime supporter President Omar Bongo has many wondering if Zaire's ruler of 32 years will ever return. Mobutu aides say he will come home Friday, but with Laurent Kabila reportedly less than 100 miles from Kinshasa, many are speculating that Mobutu will leave Gabon for exile on the French Riviera. One possible indication that Mobutu is ready to relinquish Zaire: The itinerary of U.S. envoy Bill Richardson. After a day of talks with Mobutu representatives, Richardson...
LUBUMBASHI, Zaire: Now that Zaire's summit-on-the-sea has ended in an apparent stalemate, Laurent Kabila is back to his preferred form of diplomacy: the ultimatum. From his headquarters in Lubumbashi, Kabila has given Mobutu Sese Seko eight days to yield to the rebel alliance or "be chased from the power." Fiercely denying a U.N. envoy's statement that he had agreed to a cease-fire with the ailing Mobutu, the rebel leader is giving his troops quick marching orders toward the capital. As he attempts to get Mobutu to resign before the soldiers arrive, Bill Richardson began...
...will be an important test of his diplomatic skills," says TIME's Douglas Waller, "because it's a much more complicated situation than the hostage negotiations Richardson has pulled off in the past. Kabila has proved himself quite obstreperous." More difficult, Waller notes, will be bringing Kabila and president Mobutu, with whom he will meet Tuesday, to a negotiated peace. "Kabila has nothing to gain from peace," says Waller, "and everything to lose. Only the jungle can keep him from Kinshasa...