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 Three

To read Part One.

To read Part Two

To read Part Four

Had the United Nations forgotten completely that it went into the Congo to help the central government, at the request of the head of that government, to maintain law and order and to uphold the territorial integrity of the country in the face of foreign intervention? If the United Nations has become confused about the origin of its mission to the Congo, how much more must public opinion be confused, egged on by the agents of colonialism and imperialism, until it is beginning to believe that the tragedy of the Congo is essentially a domestic dispute between rival leaders.

Too much over-simplification is being brought to bear on the interpretation of article 2 (7) of the Charter of the United Nations which prohibits interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of member states.

The very presence of the United Nations Command in the Congo suggests some degree of interference to which the lawful government of the Congo headed by Mr. Lumumba consented before inviting the United Nations into the Congo. Having already interfered, therefore, in securing the arbitrary arrest of the legitimate Prime Minister and the neutralization of the Central Government, how can the United Nations now decide to remain inactive? Must one be led to the conclusion then, that the United Nations entered the Congo merely to change the existing government in defiance of every conceivable electoral principle?

The same article 2 (7), under which the United Nations is seeking to justify its inactions, ends by stipulating: "but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII". Chapter VII points out that whenever the attention of the Security Council is called to existence of a threat to peace, breach of peace, or act of aggression", the Security Council can have recourse to measures of compulsion, despite the fact that the matter is within the jurisdiction of any state.

Now, the question arises: who should call the attention of the Security Council to such threat of peace? In addition to Member States of the organization, the Secretary-General is empowered to play the role of an informant. Article 99 says" "The Secretary-general may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security."

If the Secretary-General really believes that the continued detention of Mr. Patrice Lumumba constitutes a threat to peace, in that it can lead to civil war, which in turn, could bring about a world war, then it is for him to commend to the Security Council that such necessary measures should be taken to settle the dispute in the Congo. This should be done immediately to salvage the United Nations prestige, despite rivalries, subterfuges, colonialists and imperialist intrigues and maneuvers.

This, in my opinion, is the only method of restoring law and order in the Congo. For to permit the belgians with their imperialist and colonialist allies to continue to support and rearm Mobutu against Lumumba and his supporters (and be assured that he has many), is to defy constitutional authority, to allow Belgian power to creep back and to invite the disaster and civil war.

It is because of this view that I am being charged with officious intervention in, and meddling with affairs in the Congo. How can Ghana pursue and isolationist policy in African affairs, when she is committed to a policy of African unity? Why in fact did we go to the Congo? Why have we sent our men to distant lands far away from their families?

We are in the Congo because the freedom and independence of our compatriots are at stake. We remember only too well the price we paid to secure our own freedom and independence. We know, too, that freedom is not worth having if it has to be surrendered to foreign domination and control, whatever form it takes.

To read part four

Related article: Review of Raoul Peck's film "Lumumba"