Donatien Mahele Lieko Bokungu
Donatien Mahele Lieko Bokungu | |
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Donatien "Marc" Mahele Lieko Bokungu (April 14, 1941 – May 16, 1997) was a prominent Zairean general who served as the last army chief during the long reign of Mobutu Sese Seko.[1]
Biography
Born in 1941, Mahele, a carpenter by trade,[2] was born in Mobutu's Équateur region,[3] but unlike Mobutu, he was not from the Ngbandi tribe;[4] he was a Mbuza.[2]
One of the few Zairian generals not related to Mobutu,[2] he was unique in that he attained his rank on his own merits, rather than through political patronage.[2][4][5] Trained in France, he was a member of Mobutu's bodyguard in the 1970s.[2] He fought in the Shaba I conflict,[5] and came to prominence during the Shaba II war.[2] He distinguished himself during the Shaba wars through his discipline and good conduct.[5] After Shaba II, he was promoted to general and given command of the Berets Rouge (French: "Red Berets").[2]
In 1990, led a contingent of the
Mahele, widely perceived as being incorruptible, won massive popularity with ordinary Zairians for his suppression of rioting by Mobutu's soldiers in the early 1990s; nevertheless, he was viewed less favorably by other Zairian generals, for the same reasons.
Late in the First Congo War, he was pulled out of semi-retirement and appointed army chief of staff, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense and Veterans' Affairs[10] and tasked with reforming the Zairian military and defeating Laurent Kabila's rebels.[2]
On the eve of Mobutu's overthrow, Mahele was killed by Mobutu loyalists[11] for trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Kabila, in order to prevent a final battle in the capital city, Kinshasa, and spare its people from the bloodshed that would have likely ensued.[11][12] Mobutu's son, Kongulu Mobutu, was suspected by some of being involved in Mahele's death,[13] while others, including Kongulu's brother Nzanga, dispute this.[14]
References
- ^ "Foes of Congo Leader Disrupt Funeral Service." New York Times, June 13, 1997. Accessed on May 6, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Zaire: IRIN Briefing Part III, 02/27/97" United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network. Accessed on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Wrong, Michela. In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo. First Perennial. 2002. Page 265
- ^ a b c Wrong, p. 283
- ^ a b c d French 2005, p. 206.
- ^ Melvern, Linda. Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide. Verso. 2006. Page 14
- ^ Zaire: A Country Study, "Zaire as a Military Aid Donor." Accessed on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Cooper 2013, p. 8.
- ^ French 2005, p. 207.
- ^ List of Prime Minister Likulia Bolongo's Cabinet members Archived 1999-02-20 at the Wayback Machine CongoOnline.com. Accessed on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b "Hope and retribution in Zaire." BBC News, May 24, 1997. Accessed on June 9, 2008.
- ^ "Kabila declares himself president of Zaire." Archived 2006-11-28 at the Wayback Machine CNN, May 17, 1997. Accessed on May 6, 2008.
- ^ "Mobutu's Son Lingers, Reportedly Settling Scores." New York Times, May 18, 1997. Accessed on May 6, 2008.
- ^ Wrong, p. 286
Works cited
- Cooper, Tom (2013). Great Lakes Holocaust: First Congo War, 1996–1997. Solihull: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-909384-65-1.
- French, Howard W. (2005). A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and Hope of Africa. First Vintage Books. ISBN 978-1400030279.