MIDDLE EAST AFRICA SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A001600180002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 25, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00865A001600180002-5
Top Secret
No Foreign Dissem
r
Middle East
Africa
South Asia
Top Secret
Handle via COMINT Channels 13 Q
SC No. 08353/75
August 25, 1975
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??io Foreian Dissem/No Dissem broad
.ckground Use Only/ControZZed Dissem
Warning Notice
's'ensitive intelligence Sources and Methaids Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
tauthorized Disclosure Subiect to Criminal Sanctions
Classified by 010725
.xemnt from general declassification schedule'
of E.O. 11652, exemption category:
5B(1), (2). and (3)
Automatically declassified on:
Date Impossible to Determine
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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.
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
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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
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TOP SECRET UMBRA
! The Moroccan press has denounced Spain's apparent
efforts to create a link between the two parties,
Icharging collusion between Spain and FPOLISARIO. These
Icharges result from Spain's appointment of a Saharan
with suspected FPOLISARIO ties to the post of deputy
Isecretary general of the territory--the highest position
ever for a Saharan in the Spanish administration. The
Moroccans have also been upset by a comment by the new
deader of PUNS, Suhe Sidna, that his group, "like the
LFPOLISARIO, is ready to fight for independence." The
Moroccan press has charged that these latest develop-
ents are of "unparalleled gravity." (CONFIDENTIAL)
Aug 25, 1975 2
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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
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TOP SECRET UMBRA
_'opuLar Front Discusses Dhofar Fighting
In an unusual move, the radio of the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFC-~O) last
;leek criticized Arab governments for their
failure to speak out against Iran's active role
to the fighting in Dhofar province. The Aden-
based "Voice of Oman" also was critlcal 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 a. occasional
reference to the US. The leftist Front's contention
that the entire Arab nation must bear responsibility
f:or events in Oman contains a hint of desperation
.and suggests that the PFLO may believe that Arab
supporters of the guerrilla war arenaving second
thoughts. One broadcast admitted that the
revolution's existence is dependent n support
3 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.
`:['he 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
Ira i aid which has,
diminished in recert mont s.
Although PFLO commentators admitted the gravity
of their military situation, the broadcasts of last
eek carried no hint that the Front,intends to pull
lout of Dhofar or to otherwise change tactics. In
jfact, the broadcasts claimed that PF'LO had no
'intention of bargaining or of laying down its arms
as long as foreign troops are in Oman. 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)
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