MIDDLE EAST AFRICA SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A001600180001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 25, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

H IL.
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79TOO865AO0160018f-tecret
Middle East
Africa
South Asia
No Foreign Dissem
Top Secret
SC No. 08353/75
August 25, 1975
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
No Foreign Dissem/No Dissem Abroad
,r:cicground Use Only/Controlled Dissem
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMAT'ON
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to CriminHi Sanctions
Classified by 010(25 t
Exempt from general declassification schedule I
of E.O. 11652, exemption category:
v _,a(1), (2). and (3)
Automatically declassified on: I
Oate Impossible to Determine t
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
 Approved For Relea W'kg9M1k.-FQMqTWA65A001600180001-6
MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA - SOUTH ASIA
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com-
munity by the Middle East - Africa Division, Office of Current Intelligence.
with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of
Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to
the authors of the individual articles.
CONTENTS
Spanish Sahara: Saharan National Union
Party Reorganizes and Shifts Gears . . . . . . . 1
Kenya: Kenyatta Foe Wins By-Election. . . . . . . 3
Oman: Popular Front Discusses Dhofar
Fighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Aug 25, 1975
Approved For Releasef"]-01gE;,RIE-lPFUMC]ON 001600180001-6
 Approved For Releaep(o1/gLVUMR$! RJ 5A001600180001-6
Spanish Sahara
Saharan National Union Party
Reorganizes and Shifts Gears
The Spanish-backed Saharan National Union Party
(PUNS), one of the two main political parties in the
Spanish Sahara, has reorganized itself and announced
that it favors "total independence" for the region.
At a party congress in El Aaiun last week, the party
elected a new secretary general and resolved to re-
examine its relations with Spain and to make overtures
to the region's second political party, the Front for
the Liberation of Saguia El Hamra and Rio de Oro
(FPOLISARIO).
PUNS is made up of younger Saharans who, in the
eyes of Madrid, would form the nucleus of a possible
independent Sahara government with close ties to
Spain. In May of this year, however, the party's
secretary general, Ould Rachid, defected to Rabat,
claiming the disputed region belonged solely to Morocco.
The party floundered in the wake of Rachid's move and
took a back seat to the activities of the FPOLISARIO,
which is backed by Algeria.
FPOLISARIO has been militantly nationalist in
espousing self-determination and independence, and
as a result has not been accepted by Spain as a legal
Saharan party. FPOLISARIO is well organized; it staged
impressive demonstrations during the visit last May
of a UN fact finding commission. The party maintains
that it is the true representative of the Saharan
people, and requested the commission to present its
position to the International Court of Justice.
Spain has tolerated subsequent demonstrations by
FPOLISARIO with the hope of keeping the party overt
and possibly establishing some form of dialogue between
it and the PUNS. Madrid probably views such a dialogue
as strengthening the case for handing the territory
over to an indigenous political entity and as a means
of thwarting the drive of Morocco and Mauritania to
gain support for partitioning the territory.
(Continued)
Aug 25, 1975 1
Approved For Releas%QMRO?. A Dff
Mn A001600180001-6
 Approved For Release 200 /08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865A001600180001-6
'17C SECRET UMBRA
The Moroccan press has denounced Spain's apparent
efforts to create a link between the :wo parties,
charging collusion between Spain and _FPOLISARIO. These
charges result from Spain's appointment of a Saharan
with suspected FPOLISARIO ties to the post of deputy
secretary general of the territory--tie highest position
ever for a Saharan in the Spanish administration. The
Moroccans have also been upset by a comment by the new
leader of PUNS, Suhe Sidna, that his Troup, "like the
FPOLISARIO, is ready to fight for independence." The
Moroccan press has charged that these latest develop-
ments are of "unparalleled gravity." (CONFIDENTIAL)
Aug 25, 1975 2
Approved For Releas9,j3?j/$,RD,PTo?$f,5A001600180001-6
 Approved For ReleasFO1/gEI,R( RUMBR A5A001600180001-6
Kenya
Kenyatta Foe Wins By-Election
Mark Mwithaga, a long time backbench critic of
the Kenyatta government, was reelected by a comfortable
margin to his old parliamentary seat on August 16.
He had been deprived of his seat in June by the high
court for alleged election abuses. On the same day
he was reelected, he was sentenced by a lower
court to three and a half years imprisonment on an
assault charge.
Mwithaga was an active member of the committee
which investigated the murder of J. M. Kariuki.
Mwithaga, like Kariuki, is from the northern branch of
the Kikuyu tribe, which is opposed to Kenyatta and his
southern Kikuyu supporters.
Mwithaga's reelection in the face of strong
government efforts to defeat and discredit him
probably indicates that Kenyatta's recent intimidation
of parliament and emphasis on a narrow appeal to
southern Kikuyu interests are resented by Kenyans
from other tribal factions.
When parliament reconvenes late next month,
Mwithaga's treatment by.the government could serve
to rally the backbenchers against Kenyatta,
especially if the appeals court sustains his sentence
on the assault charge. (CONFIDENTIAL)
Aug 25, 1975
Approved For Released/0@E> Iti& D 1M6&A001600180001-6
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RD 9T00865AO01600180001-6
TOP SECRET UMBRA
'oouLar Front Discusses Dhofar Fighting
i:n an unusual move, the radio at the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO) last
week criticized Arab governments for their
f=ailure to speak out against Iran's active role
in the fighting in Dhofar province. The Aden-
based "Voice of Oman" also was critical of
"attempts by certain submissive Arab regimes" to
keep Sultan Qabus in power.
Normally, PFLO propaganda reserves its barbs
for Iran, Jordan, and the UK, with an occasional
reference to the US. The leftist Front's contention
that the entire Arab nation must bear responsibility
for events in Oman contains a hint of desperation
and suggests that the PFLO may believe that Arab
supporters of the guerrilla war are having second
thoughts. One broadcast admitted that the
revolution's existence is dependent on support
from antiimperialist Arab regimes and progressive
Arab forces. PFLO, aware of South Yemeni representa-
tives' recent talks with the Saudis, `nay be worried
about the durability of Aden's support for the
rebellion.
The reference to "submissive Arab regimes" might
have been directed at Baghdad, which according to
several recent reports intends to enter into diplomatic
relations with Muscat in the near future. PFLO is
also reported concerned about the reliability of
i:ra i aid which has, 25XIC`-
dim-__-___-- -__ recent montns.
Although PFLO commentators admitted the gravity
of their military situation, the broadcasts of last
week carried no hint that the Front intends to pull
out of Dhofar or to otherwise change; tactics. In
tact, the broadcasts claimed that PF':-O had no
intention of bargaining or of laying down its arms
as long as foreign troops are in Oma:z. With a show
of bravado, PFLO said "we are quite capable of
keeping the fighting alive and taking it forward
toward eventual victory." (SECRET/NO FOREIGN DISSEM)
Aug 25, 1975 4
Approved For Releas.q QQ/ ff DWffTA001600180001-6
SEC
 25X1D Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6
Top Secret
Top Secret
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01600180001-6