6. Editorial Note
On January 17, former Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and two of his associates, Maurice Mpolo and Jeseph Okita, were removed from the Congolese army camp at Thysville where they had been imprisoned since December 3, 1960, and flown to Elisabethville, where they were [Page 17] put into jeeps and removed from the airport. They were never seen again by independent witnesses. Katangan Minister of the Interior Godefroid Munongo announced on February 10 that they had escaped from prison and stated on February 13 that they had been killed by Katangan villagers the previous day. A U.N. commission subsequently established to investigate the circumstances of Lumumba’s death concluded that Lumumba and his associates had been killed at Elisabethville on January 17.
According to the U.N. commission report, Lumumba and his companions were taken by a representative of the Congolese Sûreté to an airport near Thysville and flown on a small plane to Moanda, from which they were flown to Elisabethville on an Air-Congo DC–4. The plan was reportedly to take them to Bakwanga, capital of South Kasai, the government of which was headed by Albert Kalonji, an avowed enemy of Lumumba, but the plane was diverted to Elisabethville, apparently because U.N. troops were at the Bakwanga airport. According to several accounts, the prisoners were beaten during the flight and were further beaten while being transferred to jeeps at the Elisabethville airport. The report concluded that Lumumba and his companions had been killed on January 17 near Elisabethville, probably in the presence of high officials of the government of Katanga Province. (Report of the Commission of Investigation established under the terms of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1601 (XV) of April 15, 1961, dated November 11, 1961; U.N. document S/4976 (also A/4964)).
A January 17 CIA report, based on information from a Belgian source in Léopoldville, stated that the Congolese Government had moved Lumumba to Bakwanga that day. (TDCS 3/462,509; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 319, Assistant Chief of Staff, G–2 (Intelligence), “Secret” Incoming and Outgoing Messages, 1961, Congo/Army) A CIA report of January 19 stated that the January 17 report was sent on the basis of information that Lumumba was being moved to Bakwanga and that only after he reached Elisabethville was it learned that the plans had been changed. The January 19 report, based on information from Congolese sources in Léopoldville, stated that the Congolese Government had decided at the last minute to take Lumumba to Elisabethville because it believed he would be murdered on arrival in Bakwanga and that this would turn world opinion against it. (TDCS 3/462,726; ibid.) Despatch 295 from Léopoldville, February 7, based on a report from a “reliable informant,” provided a more detailed account of Lumumba’s transfer to Elisabethville. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/2–761)
Rumors of Lumumba’s death began to circulate soon after his arrival in Elisabethville. Consul William Canup stated in telegram 420 from Elisabethville, January 20, that he thought it was impossible to disregard [Page 18] persistent rumors that Lumumba had died shortly after his arrival as a result of mistreatment. (Ibid., 770G.00/1–2061) Unconfirmed reports of his death, originating in Léopoldville, are recorded in CIA reports of February 7, 8, and 9. (TDCS 3/464,615, TDCS 3/464,787, and TDCS 3/464,885; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 319, Assistant Chief of Staff, G–2 (Intelligence), “Secret” Incoming and Outgoing Messages, 1961, Congo/Army)
CIA telegrams of February 9 and 10 from Elisabethville noted conflicting reports, however. The February 10 telegram stated, “Lumumba fate is best keep secret in Katanga. In addition, consulate démarche to Munongo to request humane treatment for Lumumba has caused GOK make every effort deny firm data to US Govt.” (Telegrams 0370 and 0372 from Elisabethville, February 9 and 10, respectively; Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Congressional Affairs, Review Staff Files) Regarding the Consulate démarche, see Document 8.
The Select Committee established by the Senate in January 1975 to investigate U.S. intelligence activities concluded that although CIA representatives in Léopoldville were aware of Congolese plans to move Lumumba to Bakwanga, neither they nor CIA representatives in Elisabethville had advance knowledge that Lumumba would be taken to Katanga. The committee also concluded that in spite of CIA activities in late 1960 aimed at bringing about Lumumba’s demise, CIA representatives in the Congo were not involved in Lumumba’s death and had no certain information concerning his fate after his arrival in Katanga. (Senate Select Committee To Study Governmental Operations With Respect to Intelligence Activities, Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: An Interim Report, Senate Report No. 94–465, 94th Congress, 1st Session, pages 49–51) Documentation available to the editors in Central Intelligence Agency records as well as in records of the Department of State and other agencies, the Eisenhower Library, and the Kennedy Library supports these conclusions. See also Document 44.