The Leopard Still Prowls: Nostalgia for Mobutu Sese Seko Rises in the Democratic Republic of Congo
A surprising exhibition celebrating the life of former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko has drawn crowds in Kinshasa, reflecting a growing sense of nostalgia for a bygone era in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite his legacy of corruption and authoritarian rule, many Congolese are now looking back on Mobutu’s decades-long reign with a degree of fondness, particularly as the country grapples with ongoing instability and conflict.
Young people gaze up at large photographs of Mobutu Sese Seko in the DRC’s national museum, a scene that encapsulates the complex and evolving relationship between the Congolese people and their former leader. Mobutu seized power in the 1960s and ruled with an iron fist for over 30 years, becoming a symbol of both power and excess. At the height of his influence, he was courted by global leaders and put Zaire – as the country was then known – on the world stage with events like the legendary 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
However, the DRC today is a nation plagued by seemingly endless armed conflict and political turmoil. This backdrop has fueled a reassessment of Mobutu’s rule, with some longing for the relative peace and stability of his era. “To be sure, his reign wasn’t appreciated by everyone,” says an 18-year-old architecture and urbanism student visiting the exhibit. “But at least the country was respected, and there was no war,” she adds, echoing a sentiment increasingly common among younger generations.
Mobutu’s rise to power began with a coup in 1965, quickly followed by the establishment of a one-party state and a pervasive personality cult. State television broadcasts routinely opened with images of Mobutu seemingly suspended in the clouds, a testament to the carefully constructed image of omnipotence. Backed by Western powers during the Cold War for his staunch anti-communism, Mobutu sought to forge a new national identity, even banning Western-style suits and names as part of his campaign.
Yet, his regime was also marked by rampant corruption. He constructed an opulent palace in the northern Congolese jungle and indulged in extravagant luxuries flown in on Concorde jets, while the vast majority of the Congolese population struggled to survive. Despite the wealth disparity, some recall a sense of national pride during his rule. “He fostered a real sense of national unity, which people remember fondly,” notes a politician from eastern Congo who attended the exhibit.
The end of the Cold War proved to be Mobutu’s undoing. A rebellion originating in eastern Congo gained momentum in the mid-1990s, ultimately forcing him to flee Kinshasa and die in exile in Morocco. His ouster, however, ushered in a period of even greater chaos. From 1997 onward, the DRC became embroiled in a series of back-to-back regional wars that claimed an estimated 3-5 million lives. Conflict has persisted in the east, and in early 2025, rebels backed by Rwanda captured two major cities, establishing a proto-state in the mineral-rich region.
Today, the DRC remains one of the world’s poorest nations, with over 70% of its 120 million citizens living on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank. Against this backdrop of continued hardship, the exhibit organized by Nzanga Mobutu, one of the former president’s sons and the head of a small political party, has resonated with many. “Whether he was a dictator or not a dictator, I mean: What do you want? Should we let our country be attacked and our women raped?” Nzanga Mobutu recently stated to NPR. “We had discipline, when countries tried to attack we had a response.”
The exhibit features numerous photographs of Mobutu, portraying him as a strong and commanding figure, complete with his signature leopard-skin hat, thick black glasses, and ebony cane. Images also depict him alongside world leaders such as John F. Kennedy, John Paul II, and Queen Elizabeth II, reinforcing the message that he once commanded international respect. The exhibit has drawn visitors from all walks of life, including Congolese pop stars, politicians, and even boxing legend Mike Tyson, who returned to Kinshasa to commemorate the anniversary of the “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Even current President Felix Tshisekedi visited the exhibit, a symbolically charged act given his father, Etienne Tshisekedi, was Mobutu’s most vocal political opponent. This visit underscores the complex political currents at play in the DRC, where a yearning for stability appears to be prompting a re-evaluation of the past. Some observers suggest that elements of “Mobutu-ism” are beginning to resurface in Congolese politics. In September, Congolese politicians swore oaths of fealty to President Tshisekedi, a practice reminiscent of the rituals employed during Mobutu’s rule. For many, this is a sign that the spirit of Mobutu – the so-called Leopard of Zaire – continues to prowl the corridors of power.
