By Joshua Illya
Maman Bobi Ladawa, widow of Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), has expressed her willingness to return to her homeland if provided with appropriate housing.
The 79-year-old made this request during a meeting with DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa in Rabat, Morocco, where she currently resides.
“If I am offered a residence, I will return to the country,” she said, adding that while she does not demand luxurious accommodations, she seeks a dignified home in either Kinshasa or Gbadolite, Mobutu’s ancestral region.
Her comments highlight a broader issue faced by many historical and political figures in the DRC who encounter housing challenges after extended periods abroad. Mobutu’s family members have lived in exile since the late leader’s ouster in 1997 following his three-decade rule.
Prime Minister Suminwa has not publicly commented on the request, but the meeting underscores ongoing efforts to reconcile with figures tied to Mobutu’s controversial legacy, as the government navigates calls for unity amid historical divides.
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