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Broadcast on the Congo
Situation
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, then President of the Republic of
Ghana, 15 December, 1960
Review of
Raoul Peck's film "Lumumba"
Part Four
To read Part One.
To read Part Two
To read Part Three
...... That is why we are exerting every means in
our power, denying ourselves every comfort if
necessary and counting no cost too great, to assist
our brothers in the Congo. The stand we have taken,
and will continue to take in the Congo situation can
only be understood in the light of our unflinching
determination to rid all forms of colonialism in
Africa.
Fellow countrymen, in order to resolve the present
unfortunate impasse in the Congo I recommend with
all the sincerity and urgency at my command that the
United Nations should take the following action, and
do so without a moment's delay:
One - To completely disarm the Mobutu gang and all
other non-United Nations Forces, and to eliminate
them from politics.
Two - To arrange for the immediate and unconditional
release of the legal Prime Minister, Mr. Patrice
Lumumba, and all other members of his government as
well as the members of the legally constituted
parliament, who are under arrest.
Three - To restore the normal functioning of the
legitimate Government and the elected parliament of
the Republic of the Congo; in other words, the
parliament which made Lumumba the Prime Minister,
and Kasavubu the President, should be made to
reconvene and function normally.
Four - To enforce the immediate evacuation of all
Belgian military personnel and officials from the
Congo.
Five - To assume the authority, as a temporary
measure, for the internal affairs of the Congo, to
enable law and order to be restored.
Six - To arrange that the United Nations Command in
the Congo is assigned to an experienced soldier who
can take firm action.
Seven - To form a United Nations Committee composed
of Afro-Asian countries to investigate the sources
that are financing and supplying arms and ammunition
to Mobutu and his gang.
Countrymen: In the event of the United Nations'
failure to comply with these proposals in conformity
with the provision of the United Nations Charter, it
will be my bounded duty to secure, with the
assistance of the other African States, the African
High Command to take immediate action to restore law
and order so that the legal government, headed by
Premier Lumumba, can operate.
Good night.
To read Part One.
Related article:
Review of
Raoul Peck's film "Lumumba"
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