Free Republic of the Congo
Free Republic of the Congo | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1962 | |||||||||
_(1960%E2%80%931963).svg) Flag | |||||||||
 Free Republic of the Congo in red | |||||||||
| Status | Partly recognized state | ||||||||
| Capital | Stanleyville | ||||||||
• 1960–1962 | Antoine Gizenga | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 12 December 1960 | |||||||||
• Disestablished | 13 January 1962 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of |  DR Congo | ||||||||
The Free Republic of the Congo (Template:Lang-fr), often known as Congo-Stanleyville, was a short-lived rival government to the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Léopoldville) based in the eastern Congo and led by Antoine Gizenga. Following Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba's deposition in September 1960 in the midst of the Congo Crisis, many of his supporters became disillusioned with the government in Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa). Under Lumumba's deputy, Antoine Gizenga, leftists organized in Stanleyville (modern-day Kisangani) and in December declared their own government to be the legal successor to the prime minister's administration. Gizenga quickly amassed military strength and by February 1961 had occupied vast portions of Congolese territory. In August negotiations between the two governments resulted in Gizenga agreeing to stand down and being returned to his post under the new prime minister, Cyrille Adoula. Still, Gizenga distanced himself from the central administration and rebuilt his own political and military power. The rival government wasn't fully reintegrated into the Republic of the Congo until Gizenga was arrested in January 1962.
Background
On 30 June 1960 the Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo. However, the domestic situation quickly devolved as the army mutinied, beginning the Congo Crisis. In spite of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba's efforts, the situation worsened. Katanga and South Kasai subsequently seceded from the central government. The United Nations (UN) organized a peacekeeping operation and sent troops to the Congo. On 5 September, President Joseph Kasa-Vubu dismissed Lumumba from his post. The ensuing political battle paralyzed the government and on 13 September Colonel Joseph-Désiré Mobutu announced a takeover in Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa) and the installation of his own administration.[1] Two days later Lumumba was placed under house arrest. By October, it was clear to the prime minister's supporters that little could be achieved through the new government.[2]
Antoine Gizenga, Lumumba's deputy prime minister, left for Stanleyville (modern-day Kisangani) on 13 November to form his own government.[3] Other close supporters of Lumumba quickly followed, such as Thomas Kanza, Christophe Gbenye, and Pierre Mulele.[4][5][6] General Victor Lundula, Lumumba's army commander who had been arrested by Mobutu, escaped Léopoldville and made his way to Stanleyville.[7] He and troops loyal to him pledged allegiance to Gizenga.[8] Gizenga's military strength in Orientale Province rapidly increased,[9] and his army amassed to be 6,000-strong.[10]
On 27 November Lumumba escaped from his house and made his way towards Stanleyville to join Gizenga. Five days later he was arrested.[2] He would eventually be executed on 17 January 1961.[11]
History
On 12 December 1960 Gizenga declared his new government, the Free Republic of the Congo,[8] based in Orientale Province, the legitimate ruling authority in the Congo.[12] Almost immediately the central government imposed an effective supply blockade along the Congo River.[13] In spite of the military power it possessed, the Stanleyville government never established an extensive administrative structure and functioned in the manner of a government in exile.[14] Most administrative functions remained the responsibility of the former provincial government, which had difficulties coexisting with Gizenga's new centralized authority.[15]
The Free Republic of the Congo quickly received recognition from the Soviet Union, China, Yugoslavia, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, United Arab Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, and Morocco. Gizenga demanded that Western nations relocate their embassies to Stanleyville or risk having their consuls expelled.[16]
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev authorized a payment of $500,000 to Mulele. This money was to be used to pay the rival government's soldiers, as taxes had not been levied in its territory and it was not receiving any revenue by which it could fund the army. It is believed that Mulele embezzled some of the money. The Czech government proposed supplying the regime with weapons via an air bridge from Prague through Egypt, but President Gamal Abdel Nasser vetoed the proposal.[10]
Throughout the winter the Free Republic of the Congo gained strength. On 25 December, Stanleyville troops deposed Jean Miruho's pro-Léopoldville administration of Kivu Province. Anicet Kashamura took over on 2 January 1962. By 10 January, Stanleyville forces had occupied northern Katanga as far in as Manono without facing resistance. Control was also established over the Sankuru District of Kasai. The rival government reached its greatest territorial extent on 24 February when some of its forces briefly earned the allegiance of the Luluabourg garrison.[11]
By that time news of Lumumba's death in Katanga had been circulated and negative opinion of both Katanga and the central government were at an all time high. Hoping to defuse the situation, the central government opened serious negotiations with Gizenga's government.[13] In March Léopoldville dispatched Cléophas Kamitatu to Stanleyville for talks. The following month the blockade on the Free Republic of the Congo was lifted.[17]
In June several attempts were made to bring Gizenga's government into the Non-Aligned Movement, though the proposals were blocked by other member states.[18] The Soviet diplomatic mission arrived in Stanleyville in July followed later that month by the Chinese.[19]
De jure disestablishment
On 27 July the Republic of the Congo and the Free Republic of the Congo reached a truce.[10] On 1 August President Kasa-Vubu asked the new prime minister of the Republic of the Congo, a moderate named Cyrille Adoula, to form a new government. Gizenga was appointed to be one of his deputy prime ministers. The mending of relations was formally celebrated on 15 August when Adoula flew to Stanleyville and laid a wreath on a monument deicated to Lumumba.[17]
With Gizenga brought back into the central government, the Soviets quickly returned their diplomatic mission to Léopoldville and encouraged Adoula to carry on Lumumba's legacy and end the Katangan secession. China, however, recalled its diplomatic mission back to Beijing and stated that Gizenga's government had "terminated its existence".[19] The United Arab Republic (UAR) kept its ambassador in Stanleyville and declared that it would follow the direction of the Stanleyville government. After being informed on the plan for Stanleyville's integration into the central government, the UAR announced that it would relocate its embassy back to the capital in January 1962.[20]
Final dissolution
Aside from his reinstatement ceremony, Gizenga remained in Stanleyville.[21] Fulfilling none of his official duties, he established a 300-strong militia and began administrating the Orientale Province independent of the central government.[22] Pro-Gizenga administrators were installed in the Maniema and Sankuru districts while Orientale and Kivu-based army units seemed to be under his control. By November, Gizenga once again posed a significant political and military threat to the Léopoldville administration.[23]
However, by then Gizenga had forfeited his claim of a legitimate successor government and appeared to be planning an outright rebellion. On 11 November, General Lundula pledged allegiance to the central government. That same day Gizenga's reputation was further diminished when Stanleyville troops murdered 13 Italian UN aviators in what became known as the Kindu atrocity.[23]
On 8 January 1962 the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding that Gizenga be recalled and return to Léopoldville within 48 hours, the disbanding of his militia, and the appointment of a special commission to reestablish central authority in the Orientale. Two days later Gizenga responded by saying he would do nothing unless the Katangan secession was resolved. Adoula ordered General Lundula to arrest Gizenga and dissolve what remained of his administration. Formal assistance from the UN was requested as well.[22] Gizenga retaliated by ordering his militia to arrest Lundula and a UN official in Stanleyville who had been investigating the Kindu atrocity. The plan backfired when his militiamen refused to obey his orders, and clashes between his supporters and central government troops ensued, resulting in several deaths. UN Secretary General U Thant ordered peacekeeping troops to restore order while Lundula's soldiers surrounded Gizenga's residence. Gradually Gizenga's militiamen surrendered and he was placed under house arrest.[21] By the end of 13 January Lundula and his troops had secured Stanleyville.[22]
Aftermath
Adoula formally dismissed Gizenga from the vice premiership and on 20 January 1962 the latter was flown to Léopoldville. Five days later he was imprisoned at Camp Kokolo. Upon request from Gizenga, Thant asked that Adoula respect the rival leader's legal rights.[22] He was eventually imprisoned on Bula Mbemba Island, where he would remain until 1964.[24] In February Adoula assured leftist members of his government that Gizenga would not be executed.[25]
In May a National Assembly commission found Gizenga guilty of inciting a mutiny, mistreating prisoners, and seeking foreign aid (from President Nasser of Egypt) to launch a rebellion. He was formally impeached and his government immunity was removed.[25] In August the Orientale was divided into three provinces thereby weakening its position as a political body. The following month Stanleyville was brought directly under central administration.[26]
Citations
- ^ Young 2015, p. 325–329
- ^ a b Young 2015, p. 330
- ^ Kisangani & Bobb 2009, p. 202
- ^ "Gizenga Delegate Here". The Harvard Crimson. 16 February 1961.
- ^ Packham 1996, p. 301
- ^ Oron 1961, p. 638
- ^ Kisangani & Bobb 2009, p. 325
- ^ a b Villafana 2011, p. 53
- ^ James 1996, p. 113
- ^ a b c Othen 2015
- ^ a b Young 2015, p. 331
- ^ James 1996, p. xix
- ^ a b Young 2015, p. 332
- ^ Gondola 2002, p. 127
- ^ Young 2015, p. 335
- ^ Fedorowich & Thomas 2003, p. 159
- ^ a b LaFontaine 1986, p. 16
- ^ Oron 1961, p. 60
- ^ a b Brzezinski 1963, p. 181
- ^ Oron 1961, p. 641
- ^ a b O'Ballance 1999, p. 64
- ^ a b c d Luard 2016, p. 290
- ^ a b Young 2015, p. 339
- ^ Akyeampong & Gates 2012, p. 468
- ^ a b O'Ballance 1999, p. 65
- ^ Young 2015, p. 340
References
- Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis (2012). Dictionary of African Biography. Vol. 6. OUP USA. ISBN 9780195382075.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Brzezinski, Zbigniew K., ed. (1963). Africa and the Communist World (reprint ed.). Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804701792.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Fedorowich, Kent; Thomas, Martin (2013). International Diplomacy and Colonial Retreat. Routledge. ISBN 9781135268664.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - LaFontaine, J.S. (1986). City Politics: A Study of Léopoldville 1962–63. American Studies. Cambridge University Press Archive.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Gondola, Ch. Didier (2002). The History of Congo. Greenwood histories of the modern nations (illustrated, annotated ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313316968. ISSN 1096-2905.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - James, Alan (1996). Britain and the Congo Crisis, 1960–63 (illustrated ed.). Springer. pp. xix. ISBN 9781349245284.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Kisangani, Emizet Francois; Bobb, Scott F. (2009). Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3, illustrated ed.). Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810863255.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Luard, Evan (2016). A History of the United Nations. Vol. Volume 2: The Age of Decolonization, 1955–1965 (illustrated ed.). Springer. ISBN 9781349200306.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Oron, Yitzhak, ed. (1961). Middle East Record: 1961. Vol. 2. Jerusalem: Israel Program for Scientific Translations.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Othen, Christopher (2015). Katanga 1960-63: Mercenaries, Spies and the African Nation that Waged War on the World (illustrated ed.). The History Press. ISBN 9780750965804.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Packham, Eric S. (1996). Freedom and Anarchy. New York: Nova Science. ISBN 1-56072-232-0.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Villafana, Frank R. (2011). Cold War in the Congo: The Confrontation of Cuban Military Forces, 1960-1967. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 9781412815222.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Young, Crawford (2015). Politics in Congo: Decolonization and Independence. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400878574.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)