Mobutu sese Seko- Discours du 24 avril 1990 a N'Sele

Mobutu Sese Seko’s Address of April 24, 1990

Mobutu Sese Seko’s address presented the political changes he said would usher in a “Third Republic” in Zaire. He described the country as reaching another historic turning point and said he had consulted people across the country about the political system.

Public Consultation

Mobutu reported that more than one million people took part in the consultation and that 6,128 memoranda had been received. According to his account, 87% favored reforms within the existing Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR), while 13% advocated multiparty politics.

The submissions called for stronger legislative oversight, greater accountability of the executive, restoration of the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers, and the depoliticization of the civil service, territorial administration, and security forces.

They also raised social and economic concerns, including:

• Deteriorating hospitals, schools, roads, and communications
• Shortages of medical staff and supplies
• Low public-sector salaries and unemployment
• Taxation and difficulties faced by farmers

Announced Political Changes

Despite the reported majority preference for reforming the MPR rather than introducing multiple parties, Mobutu said he had decided to go further and establish a three-party system that would include the MPR. He argued that parties should have national representation and that political pluralism must not become a vehicle for tribalism, regionalism, or separatism. He also announced plans for a new youth policy focused on education and employment.

Mobutu said the head of state would stand above political parties as an arbiter and guarantor of national unity, rather than lead the executive. He announced that he was leaving the MPR so it could choose a new leader.

Other measures he announced included:

• Ending the MPR’s institutionalized leading role and separating party and state
• Allowing trade-union pluralism
• Revising the Constitution
• Forming a transitional government
• Establishing a commission to draft a constitution for the Third Republic, to be approved by referendum

The transition was set to run from April 24, 1990, to April 30, 1991. Existing deliberative bodies would remain in place until elections.

Closing Remarks

Mobutu described the reforms as the opening of a new political chapter and called for Zairians to build the new republic together. In the broadcast’s closing commentary, an unnamed presenter called the occasion historic, praised the announcement as a new beginning, and said a press conference with the president would follow.

Presenters and Contributors

• Mobutu Sese Seko
• An unnamed broadcast presenter/commentator
• An unnamed national-language editorial team