CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY: CONGO

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: CONGO
• Keywords: KATANGA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000202791
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2011
• Case Number: F-2009-00914
• Publication Date: May 4, 1961

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COPY NO.
OCI NO.0278/61
4 May 1961
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY
CURRENT
SUMMARY
APPROVED FOR RELEASE[] DATE:
11-02-2011
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
DOCUMENT NO.
DECLASSlFiED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:
NEXT REV!E'W?J DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 1_9 REVIEW
AFTER USE
2 S S?2 v/
 SE ET
With Tshombe under deten-
tion at Coquilhatville, the Ka-
tanga regime is in the hands of
elements somewhat more favor-
ably disposed toward the UN and
toward limited cooperation with
Leopoldville. Leopoldville of-
ficials apparently believe that
with UN help the Congolese Army
units now directed from Stanley-
ville and Elisabethville can be
nut under their control. EF ------ E:
disarmament of army elements in
Katanga and the withdrawal of
the province's foreign advisers.
Tshombe's release apparently
is a precondition for this con-
cession, which reflects anti-
Belgian sentiment on the part
of Tshombe's lieutenants as
well as a somewhat more coopera-
tive attitude toward the UN than
was evinced by Tshombe and his
Belgian advisers.
the principal aim o
ilhatville conference
was to immobilize Tshombe and
put pressure on the Katanga and
Orientale regimes to permit the
disarmament of their forces.
The Elisabethville regime
announced on 2 May that it was
ready to discuss with the UN
Tshombe reportedly is to
remain in Coquilhatville until
the current conference ends on
about 8 May. Leopoldville lead-
ers are reluctant to permit him
to attend the meetings, however.
His continued absence from Ka-
tanga will further weaken his
position in the province and may
lead to his replacement by an
4 May 61 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 7 of 21
 anti-Belgian group headed by
Interior Minister Munongo.
Contacts between military
representatives from Leopold-
ville and Stanleyville have
continued. Six officers from
Gizenga's forces attended the
Coquilhatville conference and
reportedly have returned home
to try to persuade Gizenga to
put in an appearance. Gizenga
--backed up by his military com-
mander, General Lundula--con-
tinues adamant that a conven-
ing of parliament is a prere-
quisite for reconciliation, and
the Stanleyville military rep-
resentatives apparently have
insisted that the Stanleyville
officials be included in any
unified government.
Military leaders, who have
consistently favored a unitary
constitution. for the Congo,.ap-
parently are also exerting pres-
sure on the Leopoldville govern-
ment to this end. Their efforts
are likely to be abetted by For-
eign Minister Bomboko, who has
been the key figure at Coquil-
hatville; they may be opposed by
Kasavubu, however.
is stronger and more stable than
in the past. There reportedly
is little internal dissension
within the government; however,
friction still exists between
the Gizenga "central government"
and the moderate Orientale
provincial regime headed by
Jean Foster Manzikala. Economic
conditions continue to deterio-
rate in the province, although
the scarcity of banknotes ap-
parently has been alleviated
and trade across the Uganda
border has picked up slightly.
Relations between Kasavubu
and the UN remain relatively
cordial, but several possible
developments--notably the re-
turn of Dayal as UN representa-
tive or an intransigent stand
by Congolese military leaders
on the Matadi issue--might dis-
rupt the rapport.
In New York, Hammarskjold
believes that kasavubu's agree-
ment with the UN over Matadi,
together with the Leopoldville
regime's apparent willingness
to force the disarmament issue
with Katanga, has put the
Congo problem in a "most hope-
ful" new phase. He told Amer-
ican officials recently that
the action against Tshombe im-
proved the chances of a rapproche-
ment between Leopoldville and
Stanleyville, adding that he
had received confirmation of
the existence of a military
agreement between the Mobutu
and Gizenga forces. He also
indicated that as a result of
the improved situation, he
might be able to shorten Dayal's
stay in the Congo and shortly
to substitute a;fiVe-man com-
mission.for the post of senior
UN representative.
However, the Congolese con-
tinue to oppose even a brief
return to Dayal. Mobutu re-
portedly told UN military com-
mander McKeown that all coopera-
tion would cease if reports
of Dayal's return were true.
Kasavubu allegedly is consider-
ing sending a telegram to
Hammarskjold, declining all
responsibility for events if
Dayal should be sent back to
Leopoldville.
In addition, Mobutu appar-
ently has unilaterally imposed
restrictions on UN activity in
Matadi which go beyond the re-
cent agreement between Kasavubu
and the UN. Neither the UN nor
the Congolese seem desirous of
inflating this issue into a ma-
jor conflict; however, incidents
could occur as a result of the
dispute.
4 May 61 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 8 ,of 21