Mobutu Sese Seko, the flamboyant and corrupt ruler of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), earned his nickname the “Leopard Hat Dictator” for his ostentatious fashion and absolute power. Rising from a military officer to president-for-life, Mobutu transformed his country into a playground for personal gain, extravagance, and political theater, all while the nation’s infrastructure crumbled.

Comedians Robert Bacon and Mike Kauffman dive into the bizarre life of Mobutu, exploring how his obsession with style, personality cults, and kleptocracy made him infamous worldwide. From leopard-skin hats and gold-plated everything to corruption so blatant it became legendary, this episode is a hilarious yet cautionary tale of absolute power and human folly.It’s a story of style, scandal, and stupidity—perfectly suited for Mistakes Were Made.

Keywords:
Mobutu Sese Seko podcast, Leopard Hat Dictator, Zaire history, Congo history podcast, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, African dictators history, weird history stories, kleptocracy history, 20th century dictators, funny history podcast.