America, the UN and Decolonisation Cold War Conflict in the Congo

This book examines the role of the UN in conflict resolution in Africa in the 1960s and its relation to the Cold War. Focussing on the Congo, this book shows how the preservation of the existing economic and social order in the Congo was a key element in the decolonisation process and the fighting of the Cold War. It links the international aspects of British, Belgian, Angolan and Central African Federation involvement with the roles of the US and UN in order to understand how supplies to and profits from the Congo were producing growing African problems. This large Central African country played a vital, if not fully understood role, in the Cold War and proved to be a fascinating example of complex African problems of decolonisation interacting with international forces, in ways that revealed a great deal about the problems inherent in colonialism and its end. This book will be of much interest to students of US foreign policy, the UN, Cold War history and international history in general.

Introduction1. The Independence Disaster 1958 - Sept 19602. The Dismissal and Murder of Lumumba and the Establishment of the Adoula Government September 1960 - August 19613. The Adoula Government and Kitona: the Conflict and Dilemmas Created by US and UN Policy August - December 19614. Too Little Too Late January - July 19625. The Last Adoula Government of a Divided Congo July – December 19626. The End of Secession and the Beginning of the End for the Congo December 1962 - January 19637. Unified Nation Building and No Unity to Build On January- Oct 19638. The Emerging Chaos and the Forces of Disintegration Bring Tshombe’s Return October 1963 -July 1964. Conclusion

John Kent is Reader in International Relations at the London School of Economics.