Passion or Profession: President

Period: c. 1939–2001

The longtime rebel leader overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko and declared himself president in 1997. He changed the country’s name from Zaire back to Congo. The following year, the allies who had supported his campaign for power turned against him, beginning a devastating civil war that involved six neighboring nations. One of his bodyguards assassinated him in 2001, and Kabila’s son Joseph took over as president.