Donatien Mahele Lieko Bokungu

Donatien "Marc" Mahele Lieko Bokungu (April 14, 1941 – May 16, 1997) was a prominent Zairean general who served as the last army chief during the long reign of Mobutu Sese Seko.

Biography Born in 1941, Mahele, a carpenter by trade, was born in Mobutu's Équateur region, but unlike Mobutu, he was not from the Ngbandi tribe; he was a Mbuza. In the following year, he helped to put down riots, looting, and protests by mutinying soldiers and civilians in Kinshasa.

Mahele, widely perceived as being incorruptible, won massive popularity with ordinary Zairians for his suppression of rioting by Mobutu's soldiers in the early 1990s; nevertheless, he was viewed less favorably by other Zairian generals, for the same reasons. and tasked with reforming the Zairian military and defeating Laurent Kabila's rebels. for trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Kabila, in order to prevent a final battle in the capital city, Kinshasa, and spare its people from the bloodshed that would have likely ensued. Mobutu's son, Kongulu Mobutu, was suspected by some of being involved in Mahele's death, while others, including Kongulu's brother Nzanga, dispute this.