What does the name Zaire refer to?

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The name Zaire refers to the former official name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1971, President Mobutu Sese Seko changed the country's name to the Republic of Zaire as part of an "authenticity" campaign intended to emphasize the nation's cultural identity.12

Additionally, the term Zaire is a geographical name historically associated with the Congo River. The country retained the name Zaire until May 1997, when Mobutu was deposed and the state reverted to its previous name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.3142