POLITICAL ACTION IN THR CONGO

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
01245234
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
March 8, 2023
Document Release Date: 
May 15, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2017-00701
Publication Date: 
August 25, 1960
File: 
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2019/05/03 C01245234 g 5 AV cr / 96(9 SUBJECT: Political Action in the Congo 1. As the Designated Representatives are aware we have provided limited non-official financial support to modera.te political elements in the Congo in an effort to establish an effective counter- balance to the extremist tendencies of the Lttmumba government. The rapidly deterioratin,g situation has reinforced the desirability of this program. 2. The Embassy in. Leopoldville was recently approached for ,support in an anti-Luniumba campaign by the Chief Advisor to the Christian Trade Unions in the Con .o, a Bel ian. national. His program calls for an anti-Lumumba campaign and support of a broad coalition � a political parties. He is active in organizing labor and youth move- ments, and will distribute anti-Lumumba and anti-Communist tracts. His program plans to replace Lumumba with Joseph MO, President of the Congo Senate, whom we have provided with modest unofficial support as noted in paragraph 1 above. it will require three months for his program to achieve its objective of replacing Lumumba with a pro-Western government. Sizable financial support has been requested to launch the program in the youth and labor fields. SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/05/03 C01245234 � , 4. � SECRXT ,4 � Approved for Release: 2019/05/03 CO1245234 Page Two 3. In view of the rapid swing of the Luxnumba government toward a pro-Communist, anti-Western orientation it is considered that this proposed program merits financial support. It must be recognized that this individual is most probably receiving ,some measure of covert assistance from the Belgian Government. It is not believed, however, that this should be a deterring factor in the developing situation. 5. In addition to these developments, the Embassy in Leopoldville has been approached for financial support by LC(.....agi olese Senator, prom- inent as a labor leader and political figure in Ileo's party, the M. N. C. Malonji). This individual is attempting to organize sufficient opposition to Luinumba in the Senate to make possible the passing of a no-confidence vote. He needs financial aid in order to swing critical votes for this motion. Approved for Release: 2019/05/03 C01245234