Gbadolite is a town in northern Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Equateur is a province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. ...

Gbadolite was the ancestral home of the president and dictator of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) Mobutu Sese Seko. Mobutu ensured that the people of Gbadolite enjoyed many of the spoils the rest of the country didn't have, such as reliable electricity. And the roads were some of the few well maintained in the country. Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku wa za Banga (or Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga; October 14, 1930 - September 7, 1997) was the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997. ... Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku wa za Banga (or Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga; October 14, 1930 - September 7, 1997) was the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997. ...

Mobutu built Gabodolite into a luxurious town often nicknamed "Versailles in the Jungle". He built a hydroelectric dam on the nearby Ubangi river, an international airport which could accommodate the Concorde, and three large palaces. As a result, the people of the town had no trouble finding jobs, often as servants. Versailles, formerly the capital city of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important administrative and judicial center. ... The Ubangi River (also Oubangi) is a major tributary of the Congo River in Central Africa. ... The Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic transport (SST) was one of only two models of supersonic passenger airliners to have seen commercial service. ...

Two palaces were built outside Gbadolite at Kawale. One an elaborate complex of Chinese pagodas and the other a modern mansion, these were used as residences for Mobutu and guests. The three story palace in Gbadolite was used primarily for public functions. Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku wa za Banga (or Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga; October 14, 1930 - September 7, 1997) was the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997. ...

When Laurent Kabila successfully led a rebellion and ousted Mobutu from power in 1997, Gabolite was raided, and most of what was in the palaces was looted. The palaces are now being overrun by vegetation. Note: if you came to this web page after seeing it in a SPAM email, please be advised that (a) we have nothing to do with that spam and (b) the person who sent you the message is a criminal who is trying to steal your money. ... Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku wa za Banga (or Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga; October 14, 1930 - September 7, 1997) was the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997. ...

In 1998, the Ugandan backed MLC (Mouvement de Libération du Congo) rebel group, lead by Jean-Pierre Bemba, captured Gbadolite from Kabila's government and it became the MLC's headquarters.