Will Kabila Be Different Than Greedy Mobutu?

Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko was described by political scientists as a kleptocracy, a country organized by its leaders around theft. One of the richest nations in the Third World because of a bounty of gold, diamonds, cobalt and copper, its people rank with the Bangladeshis as the poorest. There is no disputing that Mobutu and his entourage took the riches.

But Mobutu’s sins were overlooked by the West because he was a willing pawn in the struggle against communism.

When that struggle was won, Mobutu no longer was needed. He became an embarrassment, and, perhaps more important, an obstacle to trade.

With what Western diplomats in Africa say was U.S. acquiescence and perhaps encouragement, Zaire’s neighbors armed a heretofore insignificant Zairian rebel, Laurent Kabila, gave him soldiers and trucks and sent him after Mobutu.

The questions now are whether Kabila will be any different from Mobutu and whether, like Mobutu, he will be able to hold the sprawling country with its 200 ethnic groups together.

Former allies said Kabila was as interested in the region’s gold as he was in fighting Mobutu and was wont to burn his opponents at the stake.

But his rebel government has imposed organization and discipline on the regions he controls. His soldiers appear highly disciplined as well, although they have been accused of murdering Rwandan refugees, in contrast with the perpetual looting by Mobutu’s desperate military.