Nzanga Mobutu: Difference between revisions
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He is married to Catherine Bemba, a daughter of businessman [[Jeannot Bemba Saolona]] and sister of politician [[Jean-Pierre Bemba]], with whom he has three children: Nyiwa, Bobi, and Sese. |
He is married to Catherine Bemba, a daughter of businessman [[Jeannot Bemba Saolona]] and sister of politician [[Jean-Pierre Bemba]], with whom he has three children: Nyiwa, Bobi, and Sese. |
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==UDEMO in Gbadolite== |
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He launched a political career as leader of the [[Union of Mobutuist Democrats]] (UDEMO), a party advocating the restoration of [[peace]], [[national unity]] and [[territorial integrity]]. He is most popular in the northwestern [[Provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|province]] of [[Équateur (former province)|Équateur]], specifically [[Gbadolite]], whence his father hailed. |
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==2006 election== |
==2006 election== |
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In the [[2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2006 presidential election]], he ran as a candidate and placed fourth, with about 4.8% of the vote.<ref>[http://africanelections.tripod.com/cd.html Elections in Congo-Kinshasa], African Elections Database.</ref> Following the first round of voting, Mobutu entered into a platform political coalition with the incumbent president [[Joseph Kabila]] to try to rally votes from the Equateur region. The coalition also involved the political party [[PALU]] of [[Antoine Gizenga]]. |
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His younger brother, Giala Mobutu, and eight other UDEMO candidates were elected to the [[National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|National Assembly]] in the 2006 election. |
His younger brother, Giala Mobutu, and eight other UDEMO candidates were elected to the [[National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|National Assembly]] in the 2006 election. |
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Gizenga became Prime Minister in December 2006, and Mobutu was named Minister of State for Agriculture when Gizenga's government was announced on February 5, 2007,<ref>[http://www.apanews.net/elect_article.php?id_article=20510 "La composition du nouveau gouvernement de la RDC connue"]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, African Press Agency, February 5, 2007 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> ranking second in the government after Gizenga.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6333897.stm "Relief at new DR Congo government"], BBC News, February 6, 2007.</ref> When Gizenga was succeeded by [[Adolphe Muzito]], Mobutu was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Basic Social Needs in Muzito's government, which was named on October 26, 2008.<ref>[http://www.africanmanager.com/articles/119222.html "Publication de la liste des membres du nouveau gouvernement congolais"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725001119/http://www.africanmanager.com/articles/119222.html |date=2011-07-25 }}, Panapress, October 27, 2008 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> On February 20, 2010, Mobutu was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security. In March 2011, President Kabila dismissed Mobutu from the government for inactivity.<ref name=Lubabu/><ref name=Kabila>Pierre Boisselet, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/182028/politique/rdc-kabila-r-voque-nzanga-mobutu-de-son-poste-de-vice-premier-ministre/ "RDC : Kabila révoque Nzanga Mobutu de son poste de vice-Premier ministre"], ''Jeune Afrique'', 11 March 2011 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> Explaining the move, government spokesman [[Lambert Mende]] accused Mobutu of "abandonment of service" for staying in Europe since November 2010 "without any explanation." Mende stressed that the move was directed only against Mobutu and not his party.<ref name="Kabila" /> Reportedly Kabila had tried to cultivate a good relationship with Mobutu, but the latter allegedly neglected his work and seemed uninterested in it.<ref name="Lubabu" /> Following his dismissal, he again ran for office in the 2011 presidential elections against the incumbent president.<ref>Rich Ngapi, [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201109070530.html "Présidentielle 2011 - Mobutu Nzanga dépose sa candidature à la CENI"], ''Le Potentiel'', 7 September 2011.</ref> |
Gizenga became Prime Minister in December 2006, and Mobutu was named Minister of State for Agriculture when Gizenga's government was announced on February 5, 2007,<ref>[http://www.apanews.net/elect_article.php?id_article=20510 "La composition du nouveau gouvernement de la RDC connue"]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, African Press Agency, February 5, 2007 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> ranking second in the government after Gizenga.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6333897.stm "Relief at new DR Congo government"], BBC News, February 6, 2007.</ref> When Gizenga was succeeded by [[Adolphe Muzito]], Mobutu was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Basic Social Needs in Muzito's government, which was named on October 26, 2008.<ref>[http://www.africanmanager.com/articles/119222.html "Publication de la liste des membres du nouveau gouvernement congolais"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725001119/http://www.africanmanager.com/articles/119222.html |date=2011-07-25 }}, Panapress, October 27, 2008 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> On February 20, 2010, Mobutu was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security. In March 2011, President Kabila dismissed Mobutu from the government for inactivity.<ref name=Lubabu/><ref name=Kabila>Pierre Boisselet, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/182028/politique/rdc-kabila-r-voque-nzanga-mobutu-de-son-poste-de-vice-premier-ministre/ "RDC : Kabila révoque Nzanga Mobutu de son poste de vice-Premier ministre"], ''Jeune Afrique'', 11 March 2011 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> Explaining the move, government spokesman [[Lambert Mende]] accused Mobutu of "abandonment of service" for staying in Europe since November 2010 "without any explanation." Mende stressed that the move was directed only against Mobutu and not his party.<ref name="Kabila" /> Reportedly Kabila had tried to cultivate a good relationship with Mobutu, but the latter allegedly neglected his work and seemed uninterested in it.<ref name="Lubabu" /> Following his dismissal, he again ran for office in the 2011 presidential elections against the incumbent president.<ref>Rich Ngapi, [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201109070530.html "Présidentielle 2011 - Mobutu Nzanga dépose sa candidature à la CENI"], ''Le Potentiel'', 7 September 2011.</ref> |
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==2011 to present== |
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In subsequent years, he lived and engaged in business ventures between the United States and Morocco, with his brother Giala leading UDEMO.<ref>Trésor Kibangula, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/440477/politique/rdc-quest-devenue-famille-de-mobutu/ "RDC : qu’est-devenue la famille de Mobutu ?"], ''Jeune Afrique'', 29 May 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> |
In subsequent years, he lived and engaged in business ventures between the United States and Morocco, with his brother Giala leading UDEMO.<ref>Trésor Kibangula, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/440477/politique/rdc-quest-devenue-famille-de-mobutu/ "RDC : qu’est-devenue la famille de Mobutu ?"], ''Jeune Afrique'', 29 May 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref>In 2023, he made his return back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he continues to lead his political party.<ref>Africa Intelligence, [https://www.africaintelligence.com/central-africa/2023/01/24/nzanga-mobutu-fishes-for-government-ministry-wants-father-s-remains-repatriated,109905897-art/Africa Intelligence./ ''DRC : Nzanga Mobutu fishes for government ministry, wants father’s remains repatriated''], 24 January 2023.</ref> |
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In 2023, he made his return back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he continues to lead his political party.<ref>Africa Intelligence, [https://www.africaintelligence.com/central-africa/2023/01/24/nzanga-mobutu-fishes-for-government-ministry-wants-father-s-remains-repatriated,109905897-art/Africa Intelligence./ ''DRC : Nzanga Mobutu fishes for government ministry, wants father’s remains repatriated''], 24 January 2023.</ref> |
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==Election results== |
==Election results== |
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Revision as of 18:03, 28 March 2024
Nzanga Mobutu | |
|---|---|
 Mobutu in 2010 | |
| President of the Union of Mobutuist Democrats | |
| Assumed office 8 January 2007 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security | |
| In office 20 February 2010 – 10 March 2011 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Basic Social Needs | |
| In office 26 October 2008 – 20 February 2010 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture | |
| In office 5 February 2007 – 10 October 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nzanga Ngbangawe Mobutu 24 March 1970 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Political party | Union of Mobutuist Democrats |
| Spouse | Catherine Bemba Mobutu |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Mobutu Sese Seko Bobi Ladawa Mobutu |
| Alma mater | American University of Paris |
| Occupation | Politician |
Template:Nzanga Mobutu sidebar
Nzanga Mobutu (born 24 March 1970 in Kinshasa)[1] is a Congolese politician. A son of the long-time President Mobutu Sese Seko, he served in the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo under President Joseph Kabila from 2007 to 2011, initially as Minister of State for Agriculture and subsequently as Deputy Prime Minister for Basic Social Needs and Deputy Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security. He was dismissed from the government in March 2011. He received the fourth-highest number of votes in the 2006 presidential election. In 2007, he founded the Union of Mobutuist Democrats as the successor to his father's Popular Movement of the Revolution and has led the party since.
Background
Nzanga Mobutu is the eldest son of Mobutu Sese Seko by his second wife, Bobi Ladawa. Nzanga grew up in Belgium and later studied communications and international relations in Canada and France before returning to Zaire in the mid-1990s. He then worked as spokesman/communications advisor to his father, and was also the chairman of the board for the Zairean bank, Soza Bank. In May 1997, he fled into exile in Morocco along with his father when rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila captured Kinshasa.[2]
In 1998, Nzanga alongside his mother, Mama Bobi Ladawa, created the "Mobutu Foundation" in hopes of helping young men and women in Africa reach their full potential.[3] In the following years, Nzanga founded Aries Communication, a communications firm in Morocco. He also served as director at Casa Agricola Solear, a Portuguese agriculture and livestock company, and became a member of the Renaissance think tank in Belgium.[4]
He is married to Catherine Bemba, a daughter of businessman Jeannot Bemba Saolona and sister of politician Jean-Pierre Bemba, with whom he has three children: Nyiwa, Bobi, and Sese.
UDEMO in Gbadolite
He launched a political career as leader of the Union of Mobutuist Democrats (UDEMO), a party advocating the restoration of peace, national unity and territorial integrity. He is most popular in the northwestern province of Équateur, specifically Gbadolite, whence his father hailed.
2006 election
In the 2006 presidential election, he ran as a candidate and placed fourth, with about 4.8% of the vote.[5] Following the first round of voting, Mobutu entered into a platform political coalition with the incumbent president Joseph Kabila to try to rally votes from the Equateur region. The coalition also involved the political party PALU of Antoine Gizenga.
His younger brother, Giala Mobutu, and eight other UDEMO candidates were elected to the National Assembly in the 2006 election.
Government minister
Gizenga became Prime Minister in December 2006, and Mobutu was named Minister of State for Agriculture when Gizenga's government was announced on February 5, 2007,[6] ranking second in the government after Gizenga.[7] When Gizenga was succeeded by Adolphe Muzito, Mobutu was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Basic Social Needs in Muzito's government, which was named on October 26, 2008.[8] On February 20, 2010, Mobutu was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security. In March 2011, President Kabila dismissed Mobutu from the government for inactivity.[2][9] Explaining the move, government spokesman Lambert Mende accused Mobutu of "abandonment of service" for staying in Europe since November 2010 "without any explanation." Mende stressed that the move was directed only against Mobutu and not his party.[9] Reportedly Kabila had tried to cultivate a good relationship with Mobutu, but the latter allegedly neglected his work and seemed uninterested in it.[2] Following his dismissal, he again ran for office in the 2011 presidential elections against the incumbent president.[10]
2011 to present
In subsequent years, he lived and engaged in business ventures between the United States and Morocco, with his brother Giala leading UDEMO.[11]In 2023, he made his return back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he continues to lead his political party.[12]
Election results
| Year | Party | Votes | % | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Union of Mobutuist Democrats | 808,397 | 5% | 4th |
| 2011 | Union of Mobutuist Democrats | 285,273 | 2% | 6th |
References
- ^ "March 12 – The Legacy of Zaire – A conversation with Nzanga Mobutu". Congo Live. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Tshitenge Lubabu, "RDC : Nzanga Mobutu, l'héritier inconstant", Jeune Afrique, 19 September 2012 (in French).
- ^ Al Kamen, "SUNDAY IN THE LOOP"., Washington Post 10 October 1998.
- ^ Mulumba Kabuayi, "Congo-Kinshasa: Kabila-Bemba, Nzanga Mobutu refuse de donner la préférence à l’un ou à l’autre." AllAfrica, 7 September 2006 (in French).
- ^ Elections in Congo-Kinshasa, African Elections Database.
- ^ "La composition du nouveau gouvernement de la RDC connue"[permanent dead link], African Press Agency, February 5, 2007 (in French).
- ^ "Relief at new DR Congo government", BBC News, February 6, 2007.
- ^ "Publication de la liste des membres du nouveau gouvernement congolais" Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Panapress, October 27, 2008 (in French).
- ^ a b Pierre Boisselet, "RDC : Kabila révoque Nzanga Mobutu de son poste de vice-Premier ministre", Jeune Afrique, 11 March 2011 (in French).
- ^ Rich Ngapi, "Présidentielle 2011 - Mobutu Nzanga dépose sa candidature à la CENI", Le Potentiel, 7 September 2011.
- ^ Trésor Kibangula, "RDC : qu’est-devenue la famille de Mobutu ?", Jeune Afrique, 29 May 2017 (in French).
- ^ Africa Intelligence, Intelligence./ DRC : Nzanga Mobutu fishes for government ministry, wants father’s remains repatriated, 24 January 2023.
External links
 Candidates in the 2011 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election | |
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| Candidates in the 2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election | |
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