CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY: CONGO

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00202791
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 5, 2016
• Case Number: F-2014-02699
• Publication Date: May 4, 1961

Approved for Release: 2016/07/05 C00202791
alSOAC
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY
SUMMARY
COPY NO.
OCI NO. 0278/61
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
DOCUMENT NO
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AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: /-9/5180 REVIEWER: 019360
4 May 1961
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
(b)(1)
CONGO
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
put under their control.
tne principal aim oi
the Coquilhatville 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
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.
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
(b)(1)
4 May 61
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
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.
e iizenga
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 liVe-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 As 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.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
4 May 61 WEEKLY REVIEW
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