Lau·rent Dé·si·ré /loʊˈrɑn deɪziˈreɪ/Show Spelled[loh-rahn dey-zee-rey]Show IPA, 1939–2001, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1997–2001.
Laurent (French lorã̃). 1940--2001, Congolese politician and guerrilla leader: he overthrew the Mobutu regime in Zaïre, becoming president of the renamed Democratic Republic of Congo (1997--2001): assassinated