The weeks of denial for Africa's most durable dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, finally came to an end on Thursday, when his three top generals asked for an urgent meeting. The trio was uncharacteristically blunt. They told Mobutu they could no longer protect him or the capital of Kinshasa from the approaching rebel army of Laurent Desire Kabila, and that if Mobutu valued his life he should flee. A commander had driven to the front east of Kinshasa that morning and concluded that government soldiers would not fight to save Mobutu's crumbling regime.
After a few final hours of procrastination, Mobutu, 66, ultimately accepted the harsh but just verdict of history. His grossly ruinous reign was finished. On Friday he flew without fanfare to his garish mansion at Gbadolite, 700 miles north of Kinshasa, leaving Information Minister Kin-Kiey Mulumba to announce to the press that the President had "ceased all intervention in the conduct of the affairs of state." Mobutu, who had said he would never be known as "ex-President," only "late President," still refused to give up his title. The President "reigns but does not govern," said Kin-Kiey.
But even before Mobutu left the capital, it was clear who was actually in power. U.S. intelligence sources said that throughout last week top army commanders were calling rebel leader Kabila, who already controlled three-quarters of the country, to pledge their allegiance. On Saturday morning Kabila's ragtag forces marched into the capital without serious opposition and by that night had taken full control. Hundreds of Zairians took to the streets, many of them wearing white headbands and holding palm fronds as signs of support. "Congo libere!" they shouted. "We are free! Kabila is here!"
While there were some killings--four of Mobutu's generals were reportedly murdered by their own men--the chaotic looting and mayhem that many had feared never occurred. Speaking from his headquarters at Lubumbashi, Kabila, 56, said he would "assume from now the functions of the head of state." He added, "I am happy, very happy to succeed." He said he would form a transitional government by Tuesday and promised a new constitution within 60 days for the country that he renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the days before Kabila's forces moved in, scores of Mobutu's political and military cronies were reported fleeing across the Congo River to Brazzaville in the nation of Congo, some with suitcases full of cash. One man seen steering a speedboat across the river was the hated General Nzimbi Ngbale, head of the elite presidential guard.
General Likulia Bolongo, Mobutu's newest Prime Minister, Thursday night telephoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Simpson in Kinshasa to announce Mobutu's impending departure. By week's end Likulia himself was in Brazzaville.
One sign that Mobutu's end had come: Switzerland announced it had seized his villa at Savigny, near Lausanne, valued at some $5.5 million. Mobutu's holdings in cash and real estate, most of them in Europe, are said to be worth $4 billion. Kabila's government is demanding that all Mobutu's assets be frozen.
In Washington, President Bill Clinton welcomed the downfall of the dictator the U.S. had backed for most of his reign, but issued a stern warning to Kabila. "The U.S. position is clear," Clinton said. "We want to see a transition to a genuine democracy" in Zaire.