Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire was a dictator who ruled the country from 1965 to 1997. He was known for his oppressive rule and for his corruption. He changed the name of the country to Zaire and adopted a policy of 'AUTHENTICITY' which sought to remove all foreign influences from the country. He also nationalized many industries and redistributed wealth among the population. He was eventually overthrown in 1997 by rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila.