The Congo Crisis 1960-61

1
The Congo Crisis1960-61
2
In Convulsion

• Mid Century -Sudden emergence of 30 new African
  Nations.
• Part of International Decolonizing
• Independence thrust upon them
• Many of the inhabitants still bound by tribal
  loyalties
• Poorly prepared for self government

3
In Convulsion

• Along with newly created Asian States formed a
  potent Afro-Asia Block
• May 1963 numbered 58
• US was now in danger of being outvoted by the
  Tower of Babble
• The once Belgian-Congo turned into a storm which
  threatened the super powers
• Possibly into World War III

4
In Convulsion

• The Belgians faced with violence forced to give
  this huge area independence
• June 30, 1960

5
In Convulsion

• No political leaders, structure, nor stability
• Produced and Orgy of violence
• Belgians halted their withdrawal and sent in
  additional troops.
• The new Congolese Premier, Patrice Lumumba, a
  former postal clerk, appealed to the UN for help!

6
In Convulsion

• The Premier threatened to seek help from Moscow
  if the UN did not send help ASAP
• The Soviets who already had agents in the Congo
  voted with the US and other Security Council
  members in supporting a resolution to remove the
  Belgians.
• A neutral UN force (about 20,000) moved in.

7
In Convulsion

• The Congo was economic as well as political
• Katanga Province was rich in copper, cobalt, etc.
• A veritable gold mine for Belgian and other
  investors
• They wanted to continue making money in Katanga.

8
In Convulsion

• They encourages a separatist movement under
  Moise Tshombe
• Formerly seceded July 1960
• The Congo, resource poor could not exist on its
  own
• The objective of the UN to get Katanga to
  confederate
• Washington supported this

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In Convulsion

• The fear was that further fragmentation would
  invite further colonialism
• When this failed the UN engaged in ferocious
  battles.
• No always winning against Katanganese forces
  commanded by Belgian and other white
  mercenaries

10
The UN Fights for Peace

• The after voting for intervention now aginst it
• Their agents run out and the pro-communist
  Lumumba murdered
• The Soviets refused to pay their share of the
  very heavy costs
• UN came close to bankruptcy

11
The UN Fights for Peace

• Only an emergency bond authorization of 200
  million and a US guarantee to purchase up to 100
  million averted disaster
• The UNs Katanga venture arouse biting criticism
  in the US by conservative republicans
• The multi-national force was to police the peace,
  not break it, avert war, and not make it!

12
The UN Fights for Peace

• the USA policy changed with the change of
  administration, Eisenhowers being less
  sympathetic to UN efforts, Kennedys more.
• The Kennedy Admin. Backed the UN and the
  Congolese govt. for one final push at unification
• A protracted conflict would bankrupt both the UN
  and the Congo
• A speedy delivery of US military supplies to the
  UN spurred them on.
• January, 1962 Tsombe was crushed

13
The UN Fights for Peace

• The Congo Government could expect stronger
  support
• The UN prestige rose.
• A victory for world order
• Scars remained, unification elusive
• Especially alarming was the continued refusal of
  Russian and France to contribute to peace in the
  Congo

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Homework

• November 2003 SBQ The Congo Crisis 1960-61
  Core sheet and be prepared to finish at my
  discretion
• Check for revisions in reading assignments

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Class Assignment

• Using any sources at your disposal, you will
  identify the significance as it relates to
  Arab/Israeli conflict. Be mindful of the effects
  these events have on the United States and the
  Soviet Union
• Creation of the State of Israel, Suez Crisis, The
  6 Day War, The Yom Kippur War, Israeli Egyptian
  Peace treaty 1979 and it was based on the 1978
  Camp David Accords. 1970 war of Attrition

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Class Assignment

• Cont.
• Additional factors which continue the conflict
  The Palestinian Refugee Problem, Non recognition
  of the State of Israel, Israeli invasion of
  Lebanon 1982, the Israeli occupation of southern
  Lebanon and the Israeli occupation of the Golan
  Heights (Syria)

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In Conclusion

• Be Prepared for a lively discussion and creative
  endeavor which you will ALL participate in. NEXT
  CLASS
• And I leave you with this
• L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace