Thirty-four years ago today, on September 22, 1991 (August 15, 1991 lunar calendar), Zaire was plunged into national turmoil. In April 1990, President Mobutu, who had been in power for 26 years under a one-party system, was pressured by the West to declare multi-party democracy. For a time, many parties emerged in Zaire, which has more than 250 tribes. Some parties joined together to form the "Holy Alliance" headed by former Interior Minister Tshisekedi and launched a struggle to overthrow Mobutu's rule. There was intense turmoil in Zaire's political scene. On September 22, 1991, a mutiny broke out in the capital Kinshasa. Soldiers who had not been led by the army for months poured into the streets and looted shops. Some police and citizens also joined the looters. Two days later, French and Belgian paratroopers arrived and quelled the unrest. In mid-October, the looting resumed on a larger scale, and it developed into partisan fighting, killing hundreds of people. Mobutu relented and appointed Tshisekedi as prime minister, then removed him and appointed another opposition leader, Diaka. On November 1, Diaka and Tshisekedi were sworn in as prime ministers and appointed government officials. There were two prime ministers in one country. The United States and 12 European Union countries supported Tshisekedi and put pressure on Mobutu. Mobutu strongly accused the West of interfering in Zaire's internal affairs. By mid-November 1991, Zaire was still in national turmoil.