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Gbadolite was the ancestral home of the president and dictator of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) Mobutu Sese Seko. Mobutu ensured that the people of Gbadolite enjoyed many of the spoils the rest of the country didn't have, such as reliable electricity. And the roads were some of the few well maintained in the country.

Mobutu built Gabodolite into a luxurious town often knicknamed " Versailles in the Jungle". He built a hydroelectric dam on the nearby Ubangi river, an international airport which could accommodate the Concord, and three large palaces. As a result, the people of the town had no trouble finding jobs, often as servants.

Two palaces were built outside Gbadolite at Kawale. One an elaborate complex of chinese pagodas and the other a modern mansion, these were used as residences for Mobutu and guests. The three story palace in Gbadolite was used primarily for public functions.

When Laurent Kabila successfully led a rebellion and ousted Mobutu from power in 1997, Gabolite was raided, and most of what was in the palaces was looted. The palaces are now being overun by vegetation.

In 1998, the Ugandan backed MLC ( Mouvement de Libération du Congo ) rebel group, lead by Jean-Pierre Bemba , captured Gbadolite from Kabila's government and it became the MLC 's headquarters.