Cold War Congo Research Paper

The Cold War is commonly viewed as a conflict involving the US and Soviet Union. However, the Unites States and Soviet Union were not the only two countries fighting this war. Among other countries, Congo was a very important proxy conflict during the Cold War between 1960 and 1965. The Congo is a vital place in the world to study, understand and pay attention to. “The Congo crisis was a proxy conflict in the Cold War due to the support of the Soviet Union and United States in opposing parties.” The soviets split the Congolese government the involvement of the Soviets split the Congolese government led by Lumumba which resulted in the mounting pressure from Western countries to remove him from power. The Congo crisis of 1960–1961 was one of

Congolese President Joseph Kasavubu and Prime Minister Lumumba asked and received a peacekeeping force from the United Nations (UN). “The U.S. played a major role in converting the newly independent Congo into a cold war battleground.” The conflict also became the site of a dangerous Cold War “proxy” contest between western powers led by the United States and the Soviet Union-led Communist bloc. Under pressure from western nations and in exchange for UN support, President Kasavubu purged his government of radical elements including Prime Minister Lumumba. The ultra-nationalist Lumumba, though supported by the Congolese, was viewed by Western business leaders as an obstacle to their continued investments in Congolese diamond mines. Fearing Lumumba was secretly a Communist, the United States was particularly adamant about his removal from power. Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba of Congo was authorized to be murdered by the Eisenhower administration. Mobutu was then installed in power in place of Lumumba by Washington and was kept there for more than 30 years. He no better than Lumumba was responsible for destroying the economic conditions of Congo and was extremely corrupt and suppressed human rights in Zaire. However, “the U.S. prolonged Mobutu’s rule by providing more than $300 million in weapons and $100

feared that the charismatic Lumumba and his supporters would allow the break-up of Congo and Soviet domination of central Africa. Under pressure from western nation and in need of the United Nation’s support Kasayubu tried to eradicate Lumumba. However, Lumumba, an ultra-nationalist and supported by the Congolese, responded by firing Kasayubu as both leaders claimed control over the country, and Army Chief of Staff Joseph Mobutu in turn orchestrated a military coup d’état which ousted the two leaders. Mobutu's government was supported by western governments. However, Mobutu, like most, was a terrible leader but did provide some benefits to the Congolese. From 1965 to 1975 he was able to build the economy based on the copper boom. On the other hand, he quickly destroyed it by appropriating all local businesses and turning them over to chersonese. Moreover, he did built the first hydroelectric dams in the region as well as established hospitals and a state television system. He also change the name of the state from Congo to Zaire. What at first seemed was a positive coup quickly became obvious to the people that it was not going to be peaceful or and open government that would ultimately factor into the Congo