The Popular Movement of the Revolution was the ruling political party in Zaire. For most of its existence, it was the only legally permitted party in the country. It was founded by Joseph-Désiré Mobut
Mobutu greets MPR politburo members near Mount Stanley, 1970
MPR propaganda poster in Kinshasa, 1973
MPR party badge, c. 1990
The Union for Democracy and Social Progress is a major political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Founded in 1982, amid the one-party rule of Mobutu Sese Seko and his Popular Movement of
Popular Movement of the Revolution
…political parties would be allowed. The "moderate" and "hardline" factions of the MPR would form separate parties, while the third party would be the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). Under the new multiparty system, Mobutu said that he would be above political parties, and accordingly he resigned as the president of the MPR…
Left to right: parliamentarians Mpinga Makanda, Étienne Tshisekedi, Joseph Ngalula, and Isidore Kanana Tshiongo a Minanga, detained by Mobutu
First meeting of the Union Sacrée de l'Opposition Radicale at the Stade du 20 Mai (Stade Tata Raphaël) in Kinshasa. Étienne Tshisekedi speaks from a microphone on the right. At the first chair in the front row is Marcel Lihau; to his left is Vincent Mbwakiem.