Secret Soviet-Congolese Talks on Providing Military Aid for the A. Gizenga’s Government, March 1961

Abstract

This article is the first publication of three documents obtained by the author in the Foreign Policy Archive of the Russian Federation. They contain important information on the Soviet role in the Congo crisis in the 1960-s and particularly its policy toward the pro-Lumumba government in Oriental Province (December 1960 — August 1961) headed by Antoine Gizenga. These are records of talks between a minister in the Gizenga’s government Pierre Mulele and high-ranking Soviet politicians, diplomats and military officers in Moscow on March 8 and 9, 1961. Mulele negotiated for Soviet arms supplies to the blockaded Orientale Province. The Soviets refused to provide military aid. The documents show that the top priority of Soviet policy in the Congo after Lumumba’s ouster and assassination was to de-escalate the crisis to prevent a direct military clash with the West.