Kabila, Laurent (Desiré) (1939-2001)

Congolese soldier and politician, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) 1997-2001. Opposed to the oppressive regime of President Mobutu, his Tutsi-led uprising was supported by the presidents of neighbouring Angola, Rwanda, and Uganda, becoming the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) from November 1996. The ADFL, led by Kabila, made rapid advances westwards from the Great Lakes region, reaching the outskirts of the capital, Kinshasa, in May 1997. After President Mandela of South Africa failed to broker a political agreement Mobutu fled the country, and Kabila declared himself president. In August 1998 Rwanda and Uganda supported the launch of the Congolese Assembly for Democracy (RCD), a rebel offensive against Kabila, but Angola and Zimbabwe maintained their backing for the president. He was assassinated in January 2001, allegedly by one of his bodyguards. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph.