https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1japYVL5kAQ?si=QGJw59X2x3HKyUQV
This perception of African nationalism as a potential gateway for Soviet influence set the stage for the CIA's interventions in Ghana and the Congo.
The Congo's journey to independence was marred by chaos. Within days of Lumumba taking office as Prime Minister in June 1960, the country descended into crisis. The mineral-rich Katanga province, backed by Belgian interests, declared secession. Lumumba's appeal to the UN for help was met with a lukewarm response, prompting him to turn to the Soviet Union for military assistance.
The aftermath of Lumumba's death plunged Congo into decades of dictatorship under Mobutu Sese Seko, who proved to be a staunch US ally throughout the Cold War. A 1975 US Senate investigation concluded, "The Director of Central Intelligence at the time, Allen Dulles, regarded Lumumba as a 'mad dog' and believed his assassination would be a 'favorable development'."
Unlike Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah managed to rule Ghana for nearly a decade before his overthrow. During this time, he pursued ambitious development projects, promoted pan-African unity, and adopted increasingly authoritarian methods to suppress opposition.
The CIA's involvement in Ghana was more prolonged and subtle compared to the Congo. Declassified documents reveal a sustained campaign to undermine Nkrumah's government through various means:
1. Economic warfare: The CIA manipulated cocoa prices, Ghana's primary export, to create economic hardship.
2. Propaganda: The agency funded and supported opposition media to criticize Nkrumah's policies.
3. Political interference: The CIA maintained close ties with opposition figures and disgruntled military officers.