October 14th, 1930: Mobutu Sese Seko born, son of a cook and a hotel maid, in Lisala in Equateur province. Baptised Joseph-Desire.
1960: Named army chief of staff shortly after independence from Belgium, wrests control from squabbling politicians on September 14th.
1961: Mobutu restores independence president Joseph Kasavubu in February. Days later, charismatic prime minister Patrice Lumumba is murdered.
1965: Mobutu stages fresh coup on November 24th, declares self head of state with full executive powers.
1966: Mobutu sets up oneparty state under Popular Revolutionary Movement (MPR); presents Zaire as bulwark against Soviet expansion.
1970: Mobutu, sole candidate, wins presidential election.
Re-elected in 1977 and 1984, again as sole candidate.
1971: Mobutu renames the Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaire
1972: Mobutu changes his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga as part of a national "authenticity" drive.
1977: French and Moroccan troops help Mobutu crush secession bid in Shaba.
1990: Mobutu announces end of one-party rule under intense foreign and domestic pressure. Transition drags.
1996
August: Mobutu has prostate cancer surgery in Switzerland.
October: Ethnic Tutsis launch revolt against Mobutu. Laurent Kabila takes leadership of the revolt.
December: Mobutu returns home for first time since revolt. Fresh trips for treatment in Europe follow.
1997
May 16th: Mobutu flees Kinshasa for Gbadolite, his jungle palace.
May 17th: Kabila's forces take Kinshasa.
May 23rd: Mobutu and family arrive in Morocco after leaving Zaire for good and failing to secure exile in Togo.
June 27th: Mobutu admitted to hospital in Rabat.
June 28th: Doctors operate on Mobutu after "serious bleeding".