CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY: CONGO

Created: 12/8/1961

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CURPENT INTELLIGENCE WE-llLY SUMMARY

CONGO

between UN andforces entered Its third dayoccabor, and statements by tbe opposing sides indicated little disposition to negotiate.

The UN Command, whileup its troop strengthto ground action, has moved first to destroy Katanga's air capabilities. ecember, UNand Indian jet fighters andKatangan airfields,runways, foel supplies, and aircraft on the ground. The single Fouga Jet trainer which gave air superiority to Katanga in Soptembor has reportedly been immobllined. The UNnow clnlms control ofair space.

It Is not yet clear whether tbe command intends to useagainst Katangan troops, butove might provo ecember, UNreportedly corrloduccessful air attack on aammunition dump near ETlsabethvllle.

Tbe main US force Is at tbe Elisabetbville airport, which tbe UN controls. UX forces are also ln control of the UN headquarters buildings on tbef tho city. Fightingnt tbe headquarters, along the road to the newand at the old. unused airport, where Katangan force* arc dug ln. With the additionecemberwedish and Irish troops, UN strongtb now stands, with an additional Nigerian battalion slated to be added.

UN civilian chief Linner has issued Instructions to UN officials ln Ellsabethville "to end the situation there asand effectively asinner is also reported to have said that now was the time to crush Katanga and that beto "denude" the Congo of UN forces elsewhere to build up his strength In Katanga. Tho UN military commander in Sllsa-bethvllle, Indian Brigadier Raja, 3tated publicly that there could be no negotiations. Katangan leaders have mado equallyand "fight to the finish" statements, and bave exhorted thc populace to fight to tbe ond.

Tho outbreak of hostilitiesecembereries of incidents beginningnvolving beatings and murders of UN soldiers andby poorly disciplinedgendarmes. Counteractions and demands of the UN military, and particularly bellicosefrom UN Indian troops, created an atmosphere ofand led Katangans torumors tbat the UN forces were about to move against Tshombe's mercenaries andthe Katangan gendarmerie.

Before tho outbreak, UN officials in the Congo and in New York had stressed that the rotation of UN troops wouldfor as long as three to four months any UN attempt tothe recent Security Council resolution which again authorized the use of force to rid Katanga of its white mercenaries. Upecember, senior UNUrquhart ln Katanga had stressed the need to rely

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on negotiation, butocenber be admitted tie was "tired of Urqubart's claim to haveatanganplan" baa not been confirmed-Mutual distrust ha* been blgh since the UN-Katanga clash ln September, each sideat not having finished the job- UK Officials insisted prior to the renewed outbreak that

French mercenaries werothe attacks on UKand were determined toK military attack in order toatangan countorthrust. Tshombe, before he left for Europe, made strung antl-UH statements ln reaction to the Security Councilagainst Katanga'sroup of Europeans was reported distributing propaganda calling

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

all-out guerrilla warfare against tbe UN forces. Rumors were also widespread iatbat Brigadier Raja was eager to "clean up" tbe city

Katangan leaders, prodded by pro-secessionist Europeans, any believe tbat another UNwould end atteatpts to end Katangan autonomy by force. One report Indicated tbat ln the eventK attack ls Katanga the mercenaries planned towith tbeir equipment Into Northern Rhodesia to conduct tbe war from there.

The UN airlift of UNto Elisabethville hastrong antl-Amerlcan reaction among Katangan loadors. Mo Americans ln0 ln IllBabetbvillehave yet been molested, but Kalaocan Foreign Minister Klmba vas so angry after tbe UN sir strikes that be put US Consul Uoffackar under bouse arrest. Tshombe also bas voiced antl-Amerlcan sentiments. Morefighting between theArmy and Katangan forces ls apparently imminent lnKatanga. Fighting wasIn late November north of Kosgolo, Tshombe's main stronghold In the area. Aided by tbe UK, Staoleyvllle-baned forces under General Lundula have taken Albertvllle, Nyunzu, and Kabalo without resistance. Elomenta of the forces are reported moving south toward haudouloville, wbicb wasreinforced by Tsbombe. Themay be hastened by theof Katangan aircraft.

Gonbra1 Mobutu's troops, who retreated in disorder in October after their foray Into Katanga, are still in Kasai. Adoula now may order these troops back into Katanga.

Tshombe, who bad gone to Paris reportedly on his wayoral Rearmament conference ln Brazil, now Is en route back tovia Brazzaville. His planned South American trip was probably in fact connected wltb bis efforts to obtain diplomatic recognition of Katanga.

According to Leopoldvllle Minister of Interior Gbeoye, Tshombe, while in Brazzaville en route to Europe,tb Adoula, apparentlyaft in the Congo River. Adoula reportedly rejected Tsbombe's gesture, insisting that Tsbombe coma to Leopoldvllle. Tbe improbabilityegotiated settlement between ths two lsalso by Adoula's rejection of suggestions pushed by Belgltsa, Britain, and Francelgb-level mediator be appointed to bringettlement.

Gizenga returned briefly to Stanleyville from northern Katanga toadio blast against tbe Adoula government for "collaborating wltb tbe

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and for failing to push the invasion of Katanga, he apparently la trying tofor the failure of an all-party conference he called forovember ln Stanleyville. Hia announcement that he was "returalng to tbe front" and his call for all Congolese Army forces to folio* his leadhe still hopes to achieve ascendancy over Adoula byas the victor against Twhosbe. most of Glzenga's former supporters contest bis claims to leadership as Lumumba's heir and for the moment give their support to Adoula.

Adoulaecembertho diplomaticof the Soviet Union. Czechoslovakia, and Poland. This move ls almost certainly the result of pressures on him by the "nationalist" members of his government. Adoula, himself, however, probably sees advantages ln the move. The Soviet Union has offeredand economic aid. He may believe that this offer and Soviet recognition ofas the legal Congolese government give him not only assurance against renewedsupport of Glzenga. but also an opportunity to press for more Western aid,aircraft, outside the framework of the UN.

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