Mobutus

Mobutus is the plural form of the given name Mobutu and is used to refer to more than one person bearing that name. In English-language writing, the term is uncommon, and references typically focus on the individual Mobutu rather than a collective group. When the name appears in plural form, it is usually in genealogical, biographical, or encyclopedic contexts.

The most internationally known bearer of the name is Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, who adopted Mobutu Sese Seko as his personal name after coming to power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was renamed Zaire from 1971 to 1997). He seized control through a coup in 1965 and ruled with an authoritarian system for over three decades. During his presidency, the country pursued an official policy of Authenticité, which promoted African cultural identity and led to the country’s name change to Zaire. His regime was marked by centralization of power, corruption, and economic difficulties. He was overthrown in 1997 during the First Congo War and died later that year in exile in Rabat, Morocco.

Beyond Mobutu Sese Seko, there are few widely recognized figures publicly identified by the plural form Mobutus. The term is primarily a linguistic form used to reference multiple people named Mobutu in contexts where plural identification is necessary, rather than to denote a distinct organization, group, or concept.