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US-USSR Rivalry in Zaire

By VVAW

Throughout the world the United States and Soviet Union are coming up against each other in a drive for economic and military superiority. This March, as part of the worldwide contention, the pre-U.S. country of Zaire in central Africa was invaded by 5,000 pro-Soviet troops based in Angola. Off the top, the situation appears to be confusing. Each side claims to be acting in the interest of the people.

This situation must be analyzed in terms of two major trends in the world today. The first is that all around the world nations want liberation (as in South Africa), countries want independence (as in Vietnam and Cambodia) and, in order to achieve these ends, people are rising up in armed revolution. The second trend is the growing contention of the two superpowers in their drive for world domination. This contention is what this war in Zaire is about. The people of Zaire do want liberation, but in this case, talk of the rebels being liberation forces is just a shuck designed to bring Soviet domination to Zaire.

Zaire used to be a colony of Belgium, known then as the Belgian Congo. It is a country that is wealthy in natural resources--mainly copper, diamond and cobalt mines. The Belgians exploited the country. Keeping the Africa people oppressed and using their labor, the Belgian capitalists backed by their army took much wealth from the Congo. Then, in 1960, the resistance to this oppression erupted into a war of national liberation led by Patrice Lumumba.

The Belgians backed an army from Katanga province made up largely of Katangan police forces. Capitalists in the united States saw this as an opportunity to get at some of the wealth of Africa. They went in with a two-pronged strategy. The Belgian-Katangan forces were defeated by a united Nations peacekeeping forces. Patrice Lumumba was assassinated by the CIA. In his place, pro-US puppet Moise Tshombe became president. Today his political successor, Mobuto Sese-Seko heads Zaire.

In the current situation the allies of the reactionary Mobutu government are:

The United States with over $1 billion invested in Zaire and its largest CIA African base in Kinshasa, Zaire. With the outbreak of the fighting the U.S. sent nonmilitary aid to supplement the annual military aid given to Zaire. The fear of the American people's reaction to "another Vietnam" has prevented the Carter administration from increasing military aid (at least openly). However, the CIA is recruiting Vietnam combat vets to go to Zaire as mercenaries.

Belgium and France with investments in Zaire have sent arms, ammunition and advisors to Mobutu.

Morocco, a country run by a feudal king and also in the US camp has sent 1500 crack troops to Mobutu. This is partly because Zaire's army is in disarray, much like the South Vietnamese Army during the final days of the war.

The forces on the other side are:

The Katangan invaders. These are basically the same mercenaries that fought with the Belgians against liberation in the early 60's. After being kicked out of Zaire they went to Angola where they signed on with the Portuguese colonialists and fought against liberation forces there. After the Portuguese were kicked out they were signed up by the pro-Soviet forces in the Angolan civil war.

The Soviet Union was formerly a socialist country. Since Khruschev they have become capitalists like their counterparts in the U.S. and are out to exploit third world countries. Using the once proud reputation as socialist friend to third world nations as a cover, the Soviets try to gain footholds in countries where people wish to be rid of their repressive governments (such as Mobutu in Zaire). The Soviets are supplying the Katangans with arms, ammunition and possibly advisors.

Cuba is part of the Soviet camp. It is totally dependent economically on the Soviet Union, and like the Soviet Union uses the cover of "socialist" to act as shock troops for the Soviet Union in Africa. Its troops are advisors and organizers of the Katangan forces. Cuba's role in Africa is becoming increasingly clear. For instance, Cuba recently sent 300 military advisors to another so-called "socialist" government in Ethiopia, a government which has used Gestapo-like house-to-house searches, mass murders of liberation fighters and open warfare against the Eritrean people within its borders.

Angola has a pro-Soviet government and is allowing the Katangan invaders to use Angola as a base for the invasion.

Some countries which don't stand to gain economically or militarily are supporting the current government. The Organization of African unity--composed of the heads of state of independent African countries supports Mobutu. Egypt has sent pilots to help run Zaire's airforce. China, long a supporter of liberation struggles has sent military aid to the current government. Their aid no strings attached. Why do these countries take this position?

It is obvious that the people of Zaire don't gain a whole lot from this skirmish. This is not a war of liberation. On the one side the U.S. and its allies including the government of Zaire have control of the wealth of the country. On the other side, the Soviet Union and its allies want that wealth. In either case that wealth is taken from the country at the expense of the people.

However, this little war must end with one side or the other as victor. Which result would be best in the long term? Which result would bring nearer the day the Zairean people are victorious in that liberation struggle started 17 years ago by Patrice Lumumba and his companions? Progressive people throughout the world see that it would be best that the rebels be defeated. If the rebels were successful, then the Soviets would have its (Cuban and Katangan) troops entrenched in the country and make it more difficult for the people to rise is revolution. Also, the Soviet Union would be in a stronger position militarily and be able to threaten surrounding independent countries.

This situation in Zaire again points to the ever-present and ever-growing contention between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries need to expand and exploit to keep their necessary profits rolling in. both keep coming up against the other one. The pattern is clear. The rich in this country and the Soviet Union are going to get down one of these days. Just like in Vietnam, they'll send working people off to fight their war. We say, FIGHT THE RICH, NOT THEIR WARS.