CONGO NOW A REPUBLIC

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 11

CONGO NOW A REPUBLIC

Autonomy Amid Confusion (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LEOPOLDVILLE, June 30. After 52 years as a colony, the Belgian Congo today became the independent Congo Republic. The official proclamation of independence will not be made until a special session of Parliament later today, but the independence was legal from one minute past midnight this morning. Guns fired a salute in Leopoldville at 10.07 a.m. G.M.T. formally to proclaim the country’s independence.

Today’s ceremonies inaugurating the republic include a religious service at the Notre Dame Church in Leopoldville during which a message from the Pope will be read. King Baudouin of Belgium and President Joseph Kasavubu will attend.

King Baudouin will later address both Houses of Parliament when the official proclamation is read.

The guard round King Baudouin will be double what it was yesterday after a man, half-drunk, removed King Baudouin’s sword from his scabbard while he was driving through Leopoldville and brandished it while crying for “i ndependen c e.” A mutual co-operation pact has been signed between the Congo and the Belgian Government, under which the two countries will maintain a strong link. Agreements were also signed allowing Belgium to maintain its Army and Air Force bases in the Congo. Until a Congolese diplomatic service is established foreign interests of the Republic will be looked after by the Belgian Government.

The Congo is the only African territory to have passed from a nineteenth century-style of colonialism to twentieth century democracy with virtually no transitional stage. Sporadic outbursts of violence, threats of secession, and political disintegration and piecing together again have bedevilled the hand-ovhr. A mere five days before independence the Prime Minister and the Head of States were not on political speaking terms and only a handful of inexperienced elite are available to run affairs.

Most of the people have only a hazy idea of what independence means, and some find it frightening. For many, questions about the future revolve round bongo (money) and whether it will mean more taxes, the British United Press reports. Unscrupulous Africans have been exploiting other Africans by collecting bongo for European house—and even European women—which they tell the Africans they will inherit after July'l. Some "buyers” of houses and women were given short measure by irate Europeans when they turned up for a preview of their “property.” The Congo Prime Minister and Minister of Defence (Mr Patrice Lumumba) has ordered the European commander of the 20,000-strong Army (General Janssens) to take strong measures in dealing with any troublemakers Congolese or Europeans—during the independence celebrations.

Although heading a “National Union” Government, Mr Lumumba Is faced by at least seven dissident groups, who claim they have not received sufficient recognition in the distribution of Cabinet portfolios. The most threatening is the powerful Conakat Party. This party dominates the copper-rich Katanga Province, which will provide about 60 per cent, of the independent Congo's revenue. The Conakat only received the post of Minister of Economics, and its leader. Mr Moise Tshombe was only made Premier of the Katanga Government. He retaliated by forming an a’l-Conakat Provincial Government which has threatened to declare Katanga independent of the Congo. Mr Lumumba’s united Congo theory is also being challenged by his former political partner but now arch-rival, Mr Albert

Kalonji. uncrowned "king'' of the Baluba people. Mr Lumumba pointedly ignored Mr Kalonji when forming his Government. Mr Kalonji is threatening to split the Kasai Province in two. with his Balubas creating an almost autonomous state in the area they control. Balubas working in Leopoldville have demonstrated several times, and they claim Mr Lumumba’s Administration to be a “puppet Government” because Mr Kalonji is, not included. These are some of the birth pains of the Republic, to which visitors from many parts of the world have been travelling in recent days for the independence celebrations.

South Africa will not be represented: It will, send a message of good will and congratulations.