What was Zairianization under Mobutu’s government?

Zairianization was a policy implemented by the government of Mobutu Sese Seko during the 1970s, characterized by the state’s systematic acquisition of private economic concerns and foreign-owned businesses.1

Under this initiative, the Mobutu regime nationalized various enterprises, including schools, and mandated that foreign-owned businesses be sold to Zairian citizens. While presented as a move toward economic independence and national authenticity, the policy functioned primarily as a tool for Mobutu to consolidate power. He used the income from these state-controlled enterprises to amass a vast personal fortune and to build an extensive patronage network, portioning out control of businesses to associates whose loyalty he required.123

The policy had disastrous consequences for the country. It led to widespread mismanagement, embezzlement, and a sharp decline in productivity and exports. As the economy collapsed, the state became increasingly unable to provide services, and the government eventually had to rescind many of these measures, returning businesses to foreign owners by 1977. Ultimately, Zairianization transformed the economy into an adjunct of Mobutu’s political machine, contributing to long-term economic instability.12