CAMPAIGN BEGUN TO OVERTHROW BANDA'S RULE IN MALAWI

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06758549
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2018
• Case Number: F-2017-01462
• Publication Date: February 19, 1965

pproved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
19.:F9bruary 1965:
ocr NO,; :0277/65
061'
. WEEKLY SUMMARY.:.:
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY -
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
cgg9S-A7
SECRET (b)(3)
GROUP-.1- Excluded.from automatic
:downgrading and deClassification
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
T4.01
'rHIS MATE:RIM., CON'; 'A INS INFORMATION, AFFECT-
ING. TT-TY: NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES
TIE MEANING OF THE., ESPIONAGE 'LAWS,
TITLE 18, TTSC, SECTIONS 793 AND 794, THE TRANSMIS-
SioN OR. REVELATION OF WHICH: IN ANY MANNER TO
AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Di 5SE INA ON CONTROLS
This document MUST NOT BE RELEASED TO FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS., 11 rriorked with soecific dissemination
donce wirh the provisions of DCID 1/7,
docne=lt 77�0.15;t r indled within the framework of
the i imitotion so irpoospri
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
ASIA-AFRICA (continued)
Page
NR R
ecord:
CAMPAIGN BEGUN TO OVERTHROW BANDA'S RULE IN MALAWI
A raid on a district headquarters probably signals the
start of an effort by ousted cabinet members to over-
throw the government of Prime Minister Banda. Foreign
African nationalists, who resent Banda's collaboration
with Portugal, may aid his opponents.
19 Feb 65 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
16
Page iii
NR
Record
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
SRN"
CLASSIFIED MATERIAL ON REVERSE OF PAGE
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549
SECR.E-
Asia-Africa
CAMPAIGN BEGUN TO OVERTHROW BANDA'S RULE IN MALAWI
Former cabinet ministers
determined to overthrow Malawi's
Prime Minister Banda have appar-
ently.begun a terrorist campaign.
Foreign_ African nationalists,
who share the Malawi dissidents'
resentment of Banda's collabora-
tion with the Portuguese in
neighboring Mozambique, may pro-
vide at least covert aid to the
rebels.
During- the night of 12 Feb-
ruary some 200 raiders struck
two police stations and: a. post
office at Fort Johnston, a dis-
trict headquarters less than
100 miles from Zomba, the cap-
ital. They cut all communica-
tions.,, -seized 85 Weapons and
several vehicles, and withdrew
With no known casualties. This
is the first instance of a con-
certed Attack against government
installations, although opposi-
tion-claShes with Banda's Youth
League have occurred sporadically
since September,
The raid probably was:. led
by former education minister
Hetry_ChipeMberei. who apparently
has, remained in the FOrt. Johnston
area, his hoMe. constituency,
since he broke. withBandalast
October. He has organized .a
resistance movement while elud-
ing intensive police searches.
Chipembere purports to Maintain
contact with five otherex-min-
isters. who have settled in Tan-
zania, where they have.SoliCited
Support from foreign African na-
tionalists 'by denouncing Banda's
links with the Portuguese. The
strike On Fort Johnston., which
followed months Of Vague threats,
Should enhance rebel prospects
19 Feb 65
of securing concrete foreign
assistance.
Banda is clearly aware of
such a threat. Last month Ma-
lawi police arrested ten agents
of the Mozambique Liberation .
Front (FRELIMO) who were smug-
gling. arms and, ammunition from
Tanzania to Mozambique.
A general popular uprising
in Malawi does not seem immi-
nent, however,' ChiOembere and
his former colleagues probably
.have gained little mass support
beyond the Fort Johnston dis-
trict, although many civil serv-
ants in Zomba have become dis-
affected beCaUSe of Banda's in-
creasingly arbitrary rule. Banda
retains firm control of the Ma-
lawi Congress Party, the coun-
try's only political party.
The army, comprising four in-
fantry companies, and the 2,800-
Man police force, officered by
British expatriates, probably
could Suppress any open resist-
ance around Fort Johnston or
Zomba. Few of the Fort Johnston
raiders have been captured, how-
ever, and they will almost cer-
tainly continue their guerrilla
Activities.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
Page 16
Approved for Release: 2018/08/07 C06758549