Congo Crisis

1
Congo Crisis

• 1960-1965

2
Background

• Political Parties strived for independence,
  foundations based on
• ethnic kinship, connections formed in schools,
  and urban intellectualism.
• 2 Important parties
• Association des Bakongo (ABAKO) led by Joseph
  Kasa-vubu
• Movement National Congolais (MNC) founded by
  Patrice Lumumba

3
Riots

• In deciding the fate of the Congo, the ABAKO
  decided to take a more radical stance towards
  ending colonialism
• Demanded immediate self government
• Consolidated power over much of lower Congo and
  Leopoldville
• Pressures from ABAKO and conflict with the
  Belgian Government led to riots in Leopoldville
• In October 1959 after a meeting of Lumumbas MNC
  he was arrested

4
Independence and Chaos

• June 30, 1960 - Patrice Lumumba was elected as
  Prime Minister, with Kasa-Vubu the president
• Mutiny by the Army, later called the Armee
  Nationale Congolaise (ANC), showed that the new
  country did not have an effective means of
  central control.
• July 11, 1960 Moise Tshombe declared the
  province of Katanga, which is rich in natural
  resources, independent with military and business
  support, but were never able to fully control the
  province due to internal conflicts.

5
Disagreement with the UN

• Lumumba requested to the UN for military
  assistance to subdue the rebellions but his
  impatience led to him threatening to seek help
  from the Soviet Union
• Secretary General Hammarskjöld and Lumumba
  disagrees on the use of force within the Congo
• Succession of South Kasai
• Diamond rich region
• Aug 8 1960 Mining State of South Kasai proclaimed
• Lumumba, dissatisfied with the UN, accepted help
  from the SU to repress the rebellion
• Caused the US to lean towards Mobutu and
  Kasa-Vubu more

6
Assassination of Lumumba

• Sept 6, 1960 Kasa-Vubu announces that Lumumba was
  dismissed
• Sept 14, Mobutu seizes power in a military coup
  with the help of CIA
• Kasa-Vubu kept as vice president
• Lumumba kept under house arrest
• Jan 17, 1961 Lumumba Assassinated with
  authorization from the Eisenhower by Mobutu
• Threat to Mobutus Power
• Russian advisors ordered to leave

7
UNs Reactions

• Feb 21, 1961 UN finally authorizes to use force,
  in a defensive measure
• August 28, 1961 Operation Rumpunch
• Called for the end of the Katanga succession by
  force
• Initially successful ended in failure
• September 9, 1961 Operation Morthor
• Called for the end of the Katanga succession by
  force
• failed
• Strong defense by Katanga forces
• Tshombe and other key government officials
  escaped and urged resitance
• UN attacks on Civillians were reported, which
  caused anger in Europe
• UN battalians were attacked and one was trapped
  in Jadotville

8
UN Intervention Continued

• Secretary Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane
  crash in an attempt to secure a seize fire with
  Tshombe
• The trapped battalion of 155 UN troops
  surrendered after running out of supplies
• September 20, 1961 Seize fire agreed
• December 5th, 1961 Operation Unokat
• Resulted in unity talks with Tshombe for one year
  without an agreement
• December 1962 Operation Grand Slam
• Ended the Katanga Succession by January 1963
• South Kasai Succession also ended a year earlier
  with the use of force by the Congolese Central
  government

9
Mobutu Seizes Power

• To quell insurgencies that appeared in the
  Eastern Provinces, the Congolese government look
  for help from the US
• Operation Dragon Rouge
• Successfully put down the rebellions
• November 25, 1965 Mobutu Seizes Power
• Establishes a one party Dictatorship
• With help from CIA, the West saw him as an ally
  against communism in Africa

10
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