Zaire

+Zaire was a vast central African nation, formerly the Belgian Congo. From 1971 to 1997, it commanded a rich heartland, shaped by the mighty [Congo River](/wiki/congo-river) and the rule of [Mobutu Sese Seko](/wiki/mobutu-sese-seko), before its rebirth as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

+## See also

+- [DR Congo](/wiki/dr-congo)

+- [African History](/wiki/african-history)

+- [Cold War Africa](/wiki/cold-war-africa)