Provisional Govt. After Youlou Resigns

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 13

Provisional Govt. After Youlou Resigns

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BRAZZAVILLE, August 16. The Congolese Army and trade union leaders early today formed a provisional government to succeed that of the former President, Abbe Fulbert Youlou, who resigned yesterday. The Provisional Government will stay in office for three months, the British United Press reported.

The new Prime Minister and Defence Minister is Alphonse Massamba-Deba, the former President of the National Assembly.

A Congolese Army captain named Mussaga was named head of the Army. The 46-year-old Abbe Youlou’s present whereabouts were not disclosed. He remained in his palace after announcing his resignation

from the balcony yesterday to a mob of 10,000 calling for his resignation.

Abbe Youlou told the crowd he had resigned to prevent the shedding of Congolese blood. His resignation came on the third anniversary of the Congo Republic’s independence from France. It was a day of total humiliation for Abbe Youlou, a stocky little former parish priest. He had planned a great independence day celebration during which he was to launch single-party rule under his new “Party of the Congolese." A staunch anti-Communist. he had been President since 1959, the year before he declared independence. Reuters said. Abbe Youlou’s resignation followed hours of negotiations with labour leaders and representatives of the military.

Finally, in a tense scene inside the palace, he formally signed his resignation. Then

he embraced his aides and went outside to confront the angry crowd. The President was invited to remain in his palace under the protection of the Army and a detachment of French parachutists. His proposal for one-party rule had been strongly resented by labour leaders and workers. It helped to touch off last Tuesday’s gutting of the Brazzaville gaol, in which five Congolese died, 28 were wounded and 480 prisoners were freed. President Youlou had tried to save the day yesterday with a promise to reshuffle the Government and delay the single-party decision, but it was not enough. His people either did not believe him. or were tired of a regim. they accused of graft and corruption. A witness said that after resigning, President Youlou immediately telephoned President de Gaulle in Paris and said: “General. I have resigned"