Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVII, Part 2, Sub-Saharan Africa

87. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter¹

Washington, June 1, 1977

[Omitted here are items unrelated to Central Africa.]

Republic of the Congo. As a result of your letter to Congolese President Yhombi-Opango and his enthusiastic response,² Assistant Secretary Schaufele will meet in Bonn on June 6 with Congolese Foreign Minister Obenga to discuss normalization of our diplomatic relations.³ We will seek assurances from the Congolese on treatment of U.S. diplomats (we suspended relations with the Congo in 1965 because of their imprisonment of several American officials) and arrangements for compensation for nationalized American oil companies. If the negotiations go well, and we think they will, one more possible sore point in our relations with Africa will be eliminated.⁴

Zaire. President Mobutu has charged our Consul in Lubumbashi with improper and subversive activities and requested that we withdraw him to avoid formal expulsion. We think Mobutu may be trying to retaliate for what he sees as our lack of support during the Shaba invasion. Our Embassy in Kinshasa has looked into the charges and finds them without merit. We will so inform Foreign Minister Nguza when he returns from Paris.⁵ In a recent cordial chat with our Charge, Mobutu did not allude to this matter so that it is at least possible that the incident will pass away.

[Omitted here are items unrelated to Central Africa.]

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State) 6/77. Secret. Carter wrote “Warren, J” in the upper right corner.
2. Yhomby-Opango wrote an April 13 letter to Carter expressing his wish to normalize diplomatic relations between Congo and the United States. Carter wrote back on May 24 and proposed a meeting of their respective representatives in Bonn in June. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 4, Congo Yhombi-Opango)
3. See Document 88. The United States suspended diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo in August 1965.
4. Carter wrote “Good” in the left margin.
5. In telegram 125616 to Kinshasa, June 1, the Department instructed the Chargé to explain to Nguza that the U.S. Government would not withdraw the Consul and to assure him that no U.S. Government representative “is or will be engaged in subversive activities against the Zairian government.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770194–0163)