The Congo: That Man, C'est Moi

The surreal quality of the Congo's creeping rebellion often obscures the fact that slowly but surely the country is slipping out of the government's grasp. In the seven months since the current wave of revolt began in Kwilu province, various rebel bands—some Communist-backed, others leaderless but just as vicious—have captured fully a third of the nation. Last week the tide lapped at, and then inundated, the biggest rebel prize yet. Strategic Stanleyville, the Congo's third largest city and the old stronghold of its first Premier, Leftist Patrice Lumumba, fell after two days of hard fighting.

Up the road to Stan marched...

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