In 1965, 35-year-old Gen. Joseph Mobutu seized power in a bloodless coup. His 32-year autocratic rule brought stability to the nation even as his corruption and nepotism helped impoverish it. A nominal Catholic – he had entered the army after expulsion from Catholic school for misbehavior – Mobutu embarked upon an “authenticity” campaign that sought to rid the nation of colonial and Western influence, and the nation was renamed Zaire. As the anti-Communist Mobutu fostered a personality cult more typically found in Marxist regimes – hymns appeared with Mobutu’s name in place of the name of Jesus – Church leaders did not kowtow.
