Katanga Quotes

“In six harrowing weeks of travel I felt I had touched the heart of Africa and found it broken.”
― Tim Butcher, Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart

“I never liked luxury, but I grew up in an environment of businessmen, in an environment where I had to sell goods, so I had to emit the quality of those goods.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“Katanga that part of Congo where economic life has been resumed and where the prospects exist to develop a real prosperity for the benefit of the indigenous population, which is completely impossible in other areas of the Congo, where inrresponsible politics in less than 3 weeks have lead to utter anarchy.”
― Gaston Eyskens

“The future structure of Congo must be federal for us.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“Since we have no confidence in the government that has just been formed in Leopoldville and is led by Mister Lumumba, we have decided to declare Katanga Independent.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“I doubt that there are no Communists in the US State Department, I wonder, I don't understand that the Americans go along with the Russians and then say they voted reluctantly, so to speak.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“I must return to Katanga because it is my responsibility to help the Katangese peoples.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“I've been living outside of the Congo for a year now. And I have often made it known that I wanted to return to Congo when the time was right. I remain convinced that there is general reconciliation possible between all Congolese and that this is the only absolute condition to get this country out of the misery and anarchy.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“There's no need for an attack i just need to get hold of Stanleyville again. You'll see I'll be back in Control of Satnleyville in a few days.”
― Moïse Tshombe

“It was a measure that brought salvation, if General Mobutu had not done so, I and some members of my party would no longer be alive.”
― Moïse Tshombe