Learn How to Pronounce Laurent-Désiré Kabila | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Laurent-Désiré Kabila

Quick Answer: In French, the name Laurent-Désiré Kabila is pronounced [lo.ʁɑ̃ de.zi.ʁe ka.bi.la].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Laurent-Désiré Kabila, a pivotal figure in Central African politics, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from May 1997 until his assassination in January 2001. His rise to power marked the dramatic end of Mobutu Sese Seko's 32-year dictatorship, a period known as Zaire, following the First Congo War. Kabila, a longtime Marxist revolutionary who had been active since the 1960s, including a failed rebellion in the 1970s and involvement in the Simba uprising, led the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL). His presidency, however, was quickly engulfed by the devastating Second Congo War, a complex regional conflict involving multiple African nations that became known as "Africa's World War." Kabila's governance was characterized by centralized authority and increasing international isolation, setting a contentious political legacy that directly influenced the trajectory of Congolese history and the tenure of his son and successor, Joseph Kabila.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name Laurent-Désiré Kabila is most accurately spelled with the hyphen between the two given names, accented "é"s, and a single "l" in Kabila. Common misspellings and variations arise from Anglicization, typographical errors, or transliteration from French. Frequent errors include omitting the hyphen to write "Laurent Désiré Kabila" or "Laurent Desire Kabila," which, while often understood, deviates from the standard form. The accents are frequently dropped, resulting in "Laurent-Desire Kabila" or "Laurent Desire Kabila." The surname is sometimes misspelled as "Kabilla" with a double "l," or confused with the similar-sounding "Kabbah." In some historical documents or regional contexts, he may be referenced simply as "Laurent Kabila," though the full hyphenated name is definitive for official and encyclopedic purposes.

Example Sentences

The march to Kinshasa in 1997 culminated with Laurent-Désiré Kabila declaring himself president and renaming Zaire as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Historians often debate the effectiveness of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's short-lived administration, which struggled to unify a country fractured by the aftermath of Mobutu's rule.

His assassination on January 16, 2001, by a bodyguard plunged the nation into a crisis that was resolved by the swift ascension of his son, Joseph Kabila.

Many accounts of the First Congo War detail how Laurent-Désiré Kabila's AFDL forces, backed by Rwandan and Ugandan militaries, advanced rapidly across the vast country.

Before his presidency, Laurent-Désiré Kabila maintained a low-profile existence for years, running a small business in Tanzania while remaining connected to various opposition networks.

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