logo
episode-header-image
Jul 3
26m 58s

#555 | Mobutu Sese Seko | The King of th...

Leonardo English
About this episode

30 for 30 Challenge - Starts 13th October - https://bit.ly/30FOR30Challenge

Registration closes at 23:59 on Sunday, 12th October.

--


Meet Mobutu Sese Seko, the man who rose from a lowly army officer to become the autocratic ruler of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 

Wearing his signature leopard-skin hat, Mobutu rebranded the country as Zaire and himself as a symbol of African pride.

 

Despite his charismatic persona and lavish lifestyle, his regime left the country impoverished, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and corruption.

 
  • Mobutu Sese Seko's rise to power in Congo
  • Congo's harsh colonial history under Belgian rule
  • Mobutu's involvement in Patrice Lumumba's downfall
  • Mobutu's 1965 coup and 32-year rule
  • Renaming Congo to Zaire and introducing the Authenticité movement
  • Mobutu's repressive regime and personality cult
  • Corruption and Mobutu's embezzlement of state funds
  • Economic decline and dependency on foreign aid
  • Mobutu's fall from power and death in exile
  • Mobutu's enduring legacy in modern-day DRC

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/mobutu-sese-seko

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Up next
Oct 2
[Bonus] Stoicism, Existentialism, and More: Philosophy for English Learners!
✨ 30 for 30 Challenge - Starts 13th October - https://bit.ly/30FOR30ChallengeRegistration closes at 23:59 on Sunday, 12th October.--Today it's a bonus episode from Thinking in English, with Tom Wilkinson.You can find out more about Thinking in English at https://linktr.ee/thinkin ... Show More
20m 37s
Sep 25
#570 | DOGE | Elon Musk's Quest to Shrink the US Government
✨ 30 for 30 Challenge - Starts 13th October - https://bit.ly/30FOR30ChallengeRegistration closes at 23:59 on Sunday, 12th October.--The Department of Governmental Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE, was a radical plan to cut government waste and reduce spending. Where did the id ... Show More
29m 34s
Sep 18
[From The Vault 🔐] Teflon’s Toxic Secret | The Hidden Cost of a Non-Stick Pan
From The Vault 🔐 — normally a member-only episode, unlocked this month for everyone.--It's a gripping battle of David vs. Goliath: a cattle farmer and a lawyer against DuPont, a massive chemical company. Discover how Rob Bilott uncovered a shocking environmental scandal, battled ... Show More
24m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 18
S5/E3 - The Rise of England Explained: Elizabethan Era, Part 1
📥 ⁠⁠Grab this episode's FREE PDF⁠⁠ with 15 advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster! 🎓 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join my weekly online group lessons⁠⁠⁠⁠ In this episode, step into the Golden Age of England with Charli ... Show More
41m 2s
Apr 2025
Updates: Daniel Kahneman, new euro, Rust movie
Today's story: In this episode, you'll hear updates from several recent Plain English stories. Daniel Kahneman, who wrote the book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" died at age 90. What wasn't reported at the time: he went to Switzerland to end his own life. Plus, the movie "Rust" is com ... Show More
16m 15s
Feb 2025
539. Horror in the Congo: The Crimes of Empire (Part 2)
“A secret society of murderers with a king for a ringleader”. In 1885 King Leopold of Belgium; an awkward, ruthless, selfish man, was recognised as the sovereign of the Congo. Long determined to carve out his very own private colonial domain, he had alighted upon the Congo - Afri ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2025
Easy English-Brexit and Economy Words Ep 797
Have you ever wondered what happened after Brexit? Did disaster strike the UK's trade, immigration, and travel? In this episode, we examine key Brexit vocabulary and explore how changes in the UK economy, trade rules, and travel affect everyday life. You'll learn all about simple ... Show More
14m 27s
Sep 2024
Your English Five a Day #44.5
E365: 🎙️ Hello and welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast. My name is Anna, and you're listening to Week 44, Day 5 of Your English Five a Day. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. 🌟 In today's episode, we sta ... Show More
11m 39s
Aug 14
Episode 465 - Vietnam Adventure - Chapter 3 - Gamer on a Motorbike
🇻🇳➡️🇨🇿In this episode of Zdenek’s English Podcast, I trade Vietnam’s chaotic motorbike traffic for the peaceful Czech countryside — no helmet required. I look back on my time abroad: how I went from terrified scooter rookie to semi-respectable rider, discovered the joy (and o ... Show More
48m 6s
Aug 18
349. How to Become an Expert in English (or Anything Else!) (English Vocabulary Lesson)
EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/think85⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! What does it really take to become an expert English speaker? How do some people reach such a high level of fluency, while others seem to struggle for years without muc ... Show More
22m 37s
Mar 2025
#431 - How I Started to Understand Movies in English WITHOUT Subtitles — My 5 Secrets
Listen with FREE Interactive Transcript only on the RealLife App. Struggling to understand fast English in movies and TV shows? In this episode, Izzy shares how he trained his ears to understand fast English without subtitles. He’ll break down connected speech, look at real examp ... Show More
21m 52s
Apr 2025
#438 - 5 Ways to Improve Your English Speaking Alone by Reading Books — The Strategies Used by the Best Learners, Essential Lessons for Life, and Why You Should Focus on Discoveries Rather Than Outcomes
Listen with FREE Interactive Transcript only on the RealLife App. In this episode, Ethan gets real about a common challenge many English learners face — feeling intimidated by reading in English. He shares five personal, practical strategies that can help you improve your speakin ... Show More
17m 50s
Jun 2024
🎙️Le French Podcast : 35. L'UNION EUROPÉENNE va-t-elle devenir un gigantesque État fédéral ? ⭐
📄 PDF du Podcast (transcription + vocabulaire) + activités interactives : https://www.lefrenchclub.fr/2024/06/06/35-lunion-europeenne-va-t-elle-devenir-un-gigantesque-etat-federal/ ✨ CLUB DE FRANÇAIS 100% EN LIGNE 🖥️ https://www.lefrenchclub.fr/ 🎙️ RÉSUMÉ DU PODCAST : Salut ! ... Show More
22m 56s