Mobutu Sese Seko: The authoritarian ruler who came into power after a military coup in 1965 and changed the country's name to Zaire. He maintained his grip on power through corruption and repression.
One-party rule: Under Mobutu's leadership, political opposition was suppressed, and the country had a single ruling party.
Zaïrianization: A policy implemented by Mobutu that aimed to promote African cultural identity and reduce Western influence, including renaming people's names and institutions.