Mobutu bankrupt

Press, 16 May 1978, Page 8

Mobutu bankrupt

NZPA Brussels Potentially one trf the richest countries in Africa but in fact one of the most turbulent, mismanaged, and debt-ridden, Zaire is a frequent embarrassment to its Western backers.

But after 18 years of independence and 13 years of rule by President Mobutu Sese Seko, t'ie bankrupt; nation continues to get the; outside support that enables, it to survive.

Diplomats explain that President Mobutu, despite his deficiencies, is stili the only man holding together a country as big as all of the United States east of the Mississipi River. To withdraw support from him, they say, could open the floodgates to secessions, uprisings and eventual tribal warfare

The frequent “invasions” by secessionist-minded former gendarmes from the copper-rich province of Shaba are an example of the kind of pressures that could rip Zaire apart.

Thus, many Western countries — including the former colonial power. Belgium, the United States, and even Saudi Arabia —are involved in a new aid effort under the auspices of the International Monetary Fund.

By raising the spectre of Cuban mercenaries at the head of the latest attempt by Katanga gendarmes to

wrest away the Sha l, a provinc., Mf Mobutu evident!. is trying to make sure he keeps the West on his si ’ iin a potentially bloodv conflict.

The long history of unrest — in which the gendarmes usually play a leading part — has contributed to Zaire’s desperate economic situiation. The nation .an out of [ foreign currency reserves three years ago, and now has an estimated SUS2SOC 4 international debt.

Inflation runs at 75 per cent a year. Communications ■ are erratic when not broken completely. Teacheis have not been paid for six' months Government workers can hardly earn enough ito buy a monthly bag of mainioc, the food staple. Malnutrition is beginning ito appear over wide areas of I the country — which before i independence was one Jf Africa’s biggest food exporters.

Zaire also has been hit by a disastrous fall in the .world price of copper, an export that brought in a 'huge income in the early 19705. The situation in Shaba province has remained uncertain since the insur(rection last year.

According to diploma.ic sources,- .he gendarmes, led by Colonel Nathaniel M’Bumba, leader of the liberation front, have since carried out mine-laying expeditions into the province. There have also been occa-

sional build-ups of übe. a I Government forces in southeast Shaba near the Ange'an border. President Mobutu sent between 8000 and 9000 members of the North Koreantrained Kamanyola brigade to Shaba province after last year’s fighting. But, the sources said, these troops were poorly paid and round it difficult to obtain food supplies since most of Shaba’s population fled in the 1977 crisis. ■ Some 70,000 Zaireans from Shaba are reported to have fled to Angola, according to diplomatic sources in Luanda, the Angolan capital. The province is chronically poor and shares • borders with Zambia and Angola that are difflc t to police. The F.N.L.C. is one of several exiled opposi' on groups fighting President Mobutu, who has recently shown signs of toughening his already .arsh stand on dissidence.

On March 13 officers and civilians were executed by firing squad in Kinshasa after being found guilty ol plotting against President Mobutu. He vowed at the time that those who tried tc live by the sword tn "'.tire would perish by it: In January the elite Presidential Guard put down ar uprising in the Bandundu area east of Kinshasa. Ir both cases official wrath was directed at people from the central Kasai or the southern Shaba rea.