Chapter 2.7 Congo Crisis

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

The Congo was given independence from Belgium in June of 1960 but was a mess due to unstable power structures and mutiny.

President Joseph Kasavbu

Democratically elected president of the Congo

Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba

the first prime minister of the Congo and also helped the Congo gain independence from Belgium; he was liked by the Congolese but not by the U.S. and the government and he was quickly imprisoned and murdered

Eisenhower's hopes

"Eisenhower hoped for a stable, pro-western government... [but was] disappointed."

Khrushchev's hopes

"Khrushchev hoped for a revolutionary, socialist regime. [But he was also] disappointed."

Military Mutany

After independence the government of the Congo was in a precious state and its new government only lasted 2 weeks before being attack by the army against the Belgian officers orders. Belgian gov sent paratroopers to protect the European residents in Kinshasa. However since the Congo was independent this act was illegal.

Katanga secedes

a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with rich copper and diamond deposits that tried to gain independence from Congo on July 11th 1960

Moise Tshombe

Congolese politician who was responsible for leading the CONAKAT political party. He was a political opponent of Lumumba and was heavily responsible for the Katangan secession. He was supported by the US and Belgium due to his strong ties to the mining interests in Katanga. He was nicknamed 'Mr Cash Register'. He refused to allow UN troops to enter Katanga and many saw him as responsible for Lumumba's assassination.

Opération des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC)

Operation des Nations Unies au Congo. Early UN intervention force in the Congo Crisis to get the Belgians out of the Congo

Resolution 143

adopted on july 17, 1960, Congo's prime minister and president asked for assistance from the UN to remove belgium from the congo.

Dag Hammarskjold

UN Secretary General during Cold War and oversaw decolonization.

Soviets provide Lumumba with military assistance

Colonel Joseph Mobutu

Lumumba's rival backed by the US, imposed a harsh, corrupt dictatorship for 32 years, his strong anti-communism won him favor with the West during the Cold War, rebels removed him from power in 1997

Assassination of Lumumba

CIA worked with the Belgian government and Congolese accomplices (Tshombe & Mobutu) to have him arrested and killed by firing squad in January 1961

Operation Grand Slam

Counter offensive under U Thant against Tshombe successfully reuniting Katanga with the rest of the Congo.

UN use of force

Active role of the Secretary General

Direct intervention of superpowers

Soviet defeat

Mobutu regime