In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz

Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire's president for thirty-two years, was known as 'the Leopard' for his cunning in seducing Western powers, silencing opposition, and dominating his people with brutality and charm. While the population suffered, he plundered the country's resources, living lavishly like a modern-day Mr. Kurtz. Michela Wrong, a correspondent who witnessed Mobutu's final days, chronicles the journey of this idealistic young journalist who became the quintessential African despot, assessing the actions of both villains and heroes in the Democratic Republic of Congo's compelling history.