why did the United States support the reign of of Joseph Mobutu?

i understand that the United States wanted to stop the spread of communism and Lumumba was a major impact on that subject and i know that Mobutu's men executed him and that's pretty much why the United States supported him but i need more information

thank you!
=]

Where did you get the idea that the US supported Mobutu? What little support there was, was directed to selected economic interests held by US companies, but frankly, that was not much support.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko

Please check these sources for more background about Mobutu, the U.S., and the Cold War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569374/Cold_War.html#s6

Here are a couple of sites that will help answer your question.

http://www.bear-left.com/original/2003/0421abc.html
Look under the letter J.

http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-210586

https://edit.britannica.com/getEditableToc?tocId=210586

The United States supported the reign of Joseph Mobutu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) for several reasons. One major factor was the Cold War context, where the US wanted to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet influence in Africa. Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Congo, was seen as pro-communist and had expressed interest in seeking aid from the Soviet Union. Due to this concern, the US and other Western powers actively worked to undermine and remove Lumumba from power.

After Lumumba's execution in 1961, Mobutu seized power and established an authoritarian regime. The US saw Mobutu as a reliable and strong anti-communist ally in the region. They believed that his rule would help maintain stability and prevent the Congo from falling into Soviet influence. Additionally, Mobutu was willing to align his policies with Western interests, allowing American corporations to have significant economic influence and access to the country's resources.

However, it is essential to note that the level of support the US provided to Mobutu was relatively limited. While there were some economic interests involved, it was not a significant or direct endorsement of his rule. The US mainly saw Mobutu as a means to their Cold War objectives rather than actively supporting his autocratic regime.

The United States did support the reign of Joseph Mobutu, but the reasons for this support were more complex than simply stopping the spread of communism.

One reason for the U.S. support was Mobutu's stance against communism. During the Cold War, the United States was engaged in a global ideological battle against communism, and Mobutu positioned himself as an anti-communist leader. He actively suppressed communist movements in the country and aligned himself with the United States in the fight against communism.

Another reason was the economic interests of U.S. companies in the region. Mobutu's regime maintained a favorable business environment for foreign companies, including American ones, to operate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). Mobutu allowed them to exploit the country's resources, particularly its vast reserves of minerals, which were essential for various industries. This economic benefit was a factor in the U.S. support for Mobutu.

Additionally, Mobutu provided a stable (albeit authoritarian) government in a region plagued by instability and conflict. The United States saw him as a "lesser evil" compared to other potential leaders who might have emerged during that time. This stability was seen as crucial for regional security and the protection of Western interests in Africa.

It is important to note that not everyone in the United States supported Mobutu, and there were criticisms of his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses. However, the U.S. government saw Mobutu as a strategic ally in the context of the Cold War and economic interests in the region.