ABSTRACT
While Mobutu's ANC, Tshombe's mercenaries, and the Cuban-exile Makasi pilots, naval and ground forces were doing battle with Cubans, Simbas, and other rebels a different battle was being fought in Kinshasa. It was a political struggle for control of Congo. Tshombe's prestige throughout Africa had been severely damaged by the Belgian-American rescue operation in Kisangani. At the time of Congo independence, when Belgian jurists threw together the Congo constitution (they were given only 36 hours), they overlooked setting a time limit on the office of the president. The ensuing government crisis lasted for ten days and paralyzed the Congo government. This constitutional deadlock paved the way for a second military takeover by Mobutu. Mobutu seemed to be a suitable compromise leader for Congo. He was not identified with European colonial powers, and he had always been careful to blame Tshombe for the hiring of white mercenaries.
