How was Zaire established?

Zaire was established as a sovereign state in 1965 when Mobutu Sese Seko, a military officer, took power through a coup d'état, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Patrice Lumumba. Initially known as the Republic of the Congo, Mobutu renamed the country Zaire in 1971 as part of his effort to promote a national identity and assert independence from colonial influences. The name change reflected a broader push for "authenticity" in African nations during the post-colonial era. Zaire remained under Mobutu's authoritarian rule until his ousting in 1997.