CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06224739
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2016
• Case Number: F-2014-01825
• Publication Date: July 20, 1961

Approved for Release: 2016/05/26 C06224739
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COPY NO. 77
OCI NO. 0289/61
20 July 1961
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY
SUMMARY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
TONFIDENTIAL
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
CONGO
About 160 of the 216 mem-
bers of the Congoleae legis-
lature have arrived at Lovanium
University outside of Leopold-
ville, the site inTeed on for
the reconvening of parliament
by leaders of the Leopoldville
and Stanleyville factions. Ex-
tensive negotiations are taking
place as the two reglmes--Elisa-
bethville is so far not repre-
sented�oaneueer for position,
UN officials are hopeful that
the session can get under way
in the next few days.
Moderates in Leopoldville
appear to be making an effort
to develep a cabinet slate under
Interior Minister Adoula. The
Leopoldville faction remains
weakened by the mutual sus-
picions of its leaders, however,
and appears unsure of its abil-
ity to dominate parliament.
Premier Ileo, realizing that
hie chances of retaining his
position once parliament con�
venes are virtually nil, is
continuing his tactics to delay
the Pension.
Tshombe still insists that
he will permit his delegates to
attend the session only if there
is a prior "summit meeting" of
Congolese leaders. Since attend-
ance at parliament by representa-
tives from Elisabethville would
reduce Gimenga's chances, it is
questionable that Gizenga would
agree to such a meeting.
Tehombe is under consid-
erable pressure from the UN to
abandon his separatist position,
20 July 41
and tension between UN and
Katanga troops in northern
Katanga is increasing. The
American consul in Elisabeth-
villa believes that Tshombn
is currently at a peak of
intransigence and is unlikely to
change his attitude. Moreover,
the Katanga president's close
associates, especially Vice
President Kibwe and Interior
Minister Munongo, seem even more
strongly opposed than he is to
the idea of reintegration with
the rest of the country.
According to a UN official,
Klbwe has repudiated the recent
reaffirmation of the military
accord between TShombe and Mobutu
and has warned Ms:bombe not to
attend parliament on peril of
assassination by rightist Euro-
pean elements in Elisabethville.
There are also indications of
uerest, stemming from grievances
concerning pay and promotions,
within the Katanga army.
Leaders in the Leopoldville
regime regard Tehomba's-seven
deputies and eight senators as
an important and perhaps essen-
tial factor in their power
struggle with Gizenga, and non-
attendance by these representa-
tives will increase Leopold-i;
vine's misgivings concerning
the session.
More than 60 parliamen-
tarians arrived in Leopoldville
from Stanleyville aboard UN air-
craft on 17 July. The group was
headed by Christophe Gbenye,
Gizenga's extreasietz interior min-
ister. Gleans* remained in Stank.
leyville as a result of an illness
'-'773E4N21a:
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CURRENT I
IGEKCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
Snokesmen associated with
the Stanleyville regime have
implied that Gizenge will seek
the Congo premiership when
parliament opens. The spokes-
men allege, however, that Gi-
mange will accept whatever
verdict results from the forth-
coming session. One represent-
ative indicated that there was
strong ant i-Kasavubu sentiment
In the Stanleyville group, sug-
gesting that the President's
position may beCOMO A MOOT
issue in Leopoldville.
In view of the continuing
struggle between the Leopoldville
and Stanleyeille groups, pros-
pects for the early formation of
an effective coalition govern-
ment appear slight. Each side
seems cautiously optimistic con-
cerning its prospects for con-
trolling parliament, and neither
is likely to accept with good
grace the position of a minor-
ity group in a coalition. Gi-
zenga's followers, however,
may feel that their greater
cohesiveness will permit them
eventually to Control any gov-
ernment, and that even a coali-
tion offers greater promise
than "going it alone" in remote
Orientale Province.
Foreign Minister Spank in-
formed UN Secretary General
Bammarskjold on lg July that be
fully agreed with the UN policy
on the withdrawal of political
and military advisers from Ka-
tanga and was urging private in-
terests to exert economic pres-
sure on Tshombe. According to
Spank, Mammarskjold did not press
the question of immediate with-
drawal of all Belgian military
officers other than to indicate
that the sooner it was accom-
plished in an orderly fashion
with appropriate replacements
the better.
Speak hes been reluctant
to withdraw all Belgian elements
without assurances that order
will be maintained, for violence
to Belgian civilians would ad-
versely affect the tenure of the
Lefevro-Spnak government. In
reply to heavy attacks from right.-
1st elements in the Belgian Cham-
ber of Deputies regarding the
expulsion of Thyssens--Tshombe's
leading Belgian adviser--Spaak
stated that much of the present
difficulty in the Congo arose
from the fact that some Belgians
at home and in the Congo have in-
tervened in internal Congolese
affairs. Speak believes that tbe
Union Miniere, the large Belgian
combine in Katanga, has not been
effectively using its influence
with Tshomb6 to get him to co-
operate with the moderates and
send delegates to parliament.
Although Spank has written Tshombe
saying that he cannot continue
to rely on Belgian political and
military support and urging him to
accept a unified federal Congo,
Spank feels that the Belgian Gov-
ernment's influence with omb6
has been Gott reduced.
--SEC-REI__
20 July 61 WEEKLY REVIEW
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