A new documentary series from ARTE examines the 32-year rule of Mobutu Sese Seko and the atrocities committed under his regime in the Congo [1].

The series, titled "Mobutu – Maître du jeu | L'ombre de Lumumba," provides a critical look at how Cold War geopolitical interests allowed a despot to maintain power. By analyzing the relationship between Mobutu and Western intelligence agencies, the production highlights the human cost of foreign intervention in Central Africa.

Mobutu began his path to power through a betrayal in 1960 [1]. He was once a close disciple of Patrice Lumumba, the father of Congolese independence, but he eventually turned against him [2]. This betrayal served as the foundation for a regime that would last for more than three decades.

According to the ARTE editorial description, the regime was characterized by the complicity of the West [1]. Mobutu worked on the payroll of the Belgians and later the U.S., who viewed Lumumba as a potential adversary [2]. This strategic alignment ensured that Mobutu remained in power despite the systemic violence used to suppress his population.

The documentary reports that the resulting atrocities led to tens of thousands of deaths in the Congo [1]. These deaths occurred over a period of 32 years of authoritarian control [1]. The series uses these figures to illustrate the scale of the devastation wrought by the dictatorship.

Through archival footage and analysis, the series explores how Mobutu transitioned from a military officer to an emblematic Cold War despot. The narrative emphasizes that his survival was not merely a result of internal control, but was facilitated by external powers seeking a stable, anti-communist ally in the region [2].

“Trente‑deux ans d'atrocités, la complicité de l'Occident et des dizaines de milliers de morts au Congo”

The documentary situates Mobutu's dictatorship not as an isolated African tragedy, but as a byproduct of the Cold War. By linking the deaths of tens of thousands to the support of the U.S. and Belgium, the series argues that Western security priorities during the 20th century often superseded human rights, creating a legacy of instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.