IT IS no coincidence that French intervention in Zaire should come when the Congo National Liberatine Front guerillas were threatening Kolweri.
Kobvert is the capital of Shaba province, formerly Katanga, and the centre of the country's mining industry. The battle for the town will be decisive for the future of the Mobulu Government.
French collaboration la the expostalus of the shuba mines -and their workers - has in the past been less than that of other imperialist powers. No doubt one of Giscard's considerations wasa wish to expand French business interestsin Zuire.
Financial and military cooperatom between the two countries has aid to Zaire was increased in 1976. inclading a Treasury loan of 59,3 million francs to finance a telearmoured cars and 17 Mirage Jets have been supplied to the Zaire armed Forces.
Since the Mobuto coup in 1965 the E'SA has been the main military hacker and economic exploiter of Zaire. Still the Americans ane sending suhstantiul supplies to Mohetu and ecunomic aid exceeds Us aid to the rest of Africa pus logelber But the attitude of the Carter administration most dearly expressed by UN ambaseader Andrew Voung - Is resolutely neucolonial. Whaterer their apparent political complesion. argues Toune. covernmenis will shill wan tetrade with us.
elsewhereto supplement US aid. He IS KNOWN U NOTE STONE INKS TE B055, the South African secret police, and y rabidly communist consortium of interOperation Cobra T1 be phanied These were the the planned attack on Angolalater this year.
All the evidence points do a cure. fully planned imperialise intervention when the rehels" advance on Kolwer and the level of support from she population became clear. There was a division of labour between France [transport planes and military advisers]. Morocco (combat troops), Egypt jair and artillery support|, Uganda commandus| und Belgium (economic aid and a number of Iroops stationed in Kamina]. West Germany helped out with f1 million worth of humanitarian aid.
The only problem is that they miphit stop the guerillas advance but they are unlikely to kill the isovement, Western military soarces are already predicting a proIn case you ure wondering why everyone finds Zaire so attractive. produces 31 per cent of the world's diamonds. 2 per cent of its mangancer, 2 per cent of its tin, 10 per cest of its copper, 0.3 per cent of its gold. 1.3 percent of its zine und 0.6 per cent of its silver. That is not to mention its cotalt — of which it is the world's major supplier carhon, aranium, tantalum, platinum and recenily discovered oil and methanedeposits.
They all want to keep their hands A PICTIM of frish terrorism' the British media preferred not publicise: one of the many who were oracked by the police of the Southern Irish state at on Easter demonsmation held in Dublin do protest about the trearment of Irish Republican prisoners in Poni Laoise prison, The irish Times revealed what the police removed their identificaion numbers prior to their attack on action was planned and premedi fated. 20 prisomers are at premen: on humper strike in Port Laoise, a The demands of the hunger association; an end to degrading and humiliating strip searches; on end to solitary confinement; open President Mobutu, above, and