Zaire has the potential to be a very wealthy nation, but today it is one of the poorest countries on the African continent. Mobutu Sese Seko has been the president of Zaire since the 1965 coup that first brought him into power. Mobutu's regime has been characterized as being corrupt and poorly managed. As a result of these problems, Zaire currently exists in a severe state of underdevelopment. This is ironic, because Zaire possesses some of the richest mineral deposits in Africa. Because of Mobutu's mismanagement of his country, there is every reason for his regime to collapse. The fact that it has not collapsed can be attributed to the external support that Mobutu has received throughout his reign. In particular, Mobutu has been able to remain in power because of the military and economic support that he has received from France and the United States.
Mobutu's corruption can be seen in the fact that he has amassed a huge personal fortune at his country's expense. Although Zaire has a foreign debt of more than $5 billion, "estimates of Mobutu's fortune run upwards of $2 billion to more than twice that." Other sources suggest that Mobutu's personal worth is well over $5 billion. Most of this money was gained through corrupt means. For example, foreign assistance intended for developmental aid has often found its way into Mobutu's personal accounts instead. Even Mobutu's pretense at popular elections in his country is filled with signs of corruption. For example, it has been reported that "mock elections" are usually held in Zaire. In these elections, voters are told to use a green card if they are in favor of Mobutu and a red card if they are opposed to him. In order to insure Mobutu's electoral success, most of the polling places do not stock red cards at all. The debauchery of Zaire's president can be found throughout every level of the nation's government. For example, bribery is commonplace among government off...