CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY: CONGO
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0000202771
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
3
Document Creation Date:
June 24, 2015
Document Release Date:
November 17, 2011
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-2009-00914
Publication Date:
July 6, 1961
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DOC_0000202771.pdf | 117.32 KB |
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jCoM?e 19MVIAL
(
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY
SUMMARY
COPY NO. 71
OCI NO. 0287/61
6 July 1961
APPROVED FOR RELEASE[] DATE:
11-02-2011
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. ^
F] DECLASS(=RED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S
NEXT REVIEW L`: FE: LS 9
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 2v ldd REVIEWER: 015360
j 11 J O
Moderate Leopoldville poli-
ticians still have not adopted
a common front on the policy to
be followed toward the Stanley-
ville and Elisabethville re-
gimes. The reconvening of par-
liament has consequently been
further postponed, and an early
meeting seems unlikely. Kasavu-
bu on 5 July signed an order
convening parliament on 15 July;
however, the provision that the
two houses will hold their ac-
tual first session on a date to
be set by their outgoing presi-
dents is expected to result in
further delays.
There is growing friction
among Mobutu, Foreign Minister
Bomboko, and Interior Minister
Adoula--who have been dominating
the Leopoldville political
scene. Adoula, who seems to
have the broadest parliamentary
support of any Congolese, has
been advocating an early meet-
ing of parliament. He has told
American officials he hopes to
reach a compromise with Gizenga,
in which the Stanleyville lead-
er would accept a minor role
in a new government.
Mobutu and Bomboko, how-
ever, seem doubtful that the
moderates can control the legis-
lature, particularly if Katanga
maintains its present separatist
course and refuses to attend.
Bomboko recently persuaded
Kasavubu not to issue a decree
calling for a parliamentary
meeting on 3 July. He has
since modified his position
somewhat but still believes
that extensive negotiations
among the anti-Gizenga forces
are necessary before the legis-
lature can be permitted to
assemble.
Mobutu reportedly feels
that too many concessions have
already been made to the Stan-
leyville regime and is prepared
to take issue with Gizenga on
procedural as well as substan-
tive matters. He stated recent-
ly that he, Tshomb6, and the
premier of Albert Kalonji's
South Kasai state had agreed
that the parliament buildings
in Leopoldville, rather than
Lovanium University on the
edge of the city, should be the
site of the parliamentary meet-
ing. He stated further that
if this should be unacceptable
to Gizenga, the Legislature
.should convene without repre-
sentatives from Stanleyville.
Sympathizers of Gizenga
in Leopoldville reportedly are
supporting Jean Bolikango, the
ambitious deputy premier in the
Ileo cabinet, to replace
Kasavubu as president of the
republic. They reportedly are
advising: Gizenga not to insist
on the premiership "at this
time," on the theory that any
government can be upset within
a few months and the way will
then be open for the Gizengists
to attain power.
Economic considerations
are still putting pressure on
Gizenga to come to terms with
Leopoldville. The Stanleyville
regime has fallen behind in pay-
ments to its troops, and Gizenga
was forced to cancel an Independ-
ence Day parade on 30 June-
6' July 61 WEEKLY REVIEW Page i_i of 24
SEfIET
because of the shortage of gaso-
line.
The first flight of a pro-
jected airline from Athens to
Stanleyville via Cairo and
Khartoum arrived in Stanleyville
on l Tuly. The airline allegedly
is financed by Greek capital
and the gold reserves of the
Gizenga regime, but Greek of-
ficials in the Congo believe
that some of the backing came
from the UAR. The airline would
provide the first direct link
between Stanleyville and the
outside world and could furnish
considerable material and moral
support to Gizenga.
The Elisabethville regime
continued its intransigent at-
titude toward Leopoldville on
4 July with a parliamentary
resolution--passed with less
than a quorum present--repudi-
ating agreements made by Tshom-
b6 before he left Leopoldville.
The military agreement between
Tshomb6 and Mobutu apparently
is still in operation, and Mo-
butu has scheduled a visit to
"his troops" in Katanga next
week. However, Tshomb6'report-
edly plans to expel the.-Leo-
poldville military mission
eventually.
Tshombe's absence on "dip-
lomatic leave" probably will
preclude any early change in the
Katanga position. In the mean-
time, UN officers who are nego-
tiating with the Katangans over
the retaining of Tshombe's
forces report that Mobutu's rep-
resentatives are doing little
to establish their influence
...;+h +hc F'1ic hpthville troops.
6 July 61 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 12 of 24