UN General Assembly
1960

40. The present crisis in the Congo would never have reached this critical stage if Belgium was not trying through secessionists to violate the unity, territorial integrity, and independence of the Congo. At the time when President Kasa-Vubu and Prime Minister Lumumba addressed their joint appeal to the United Nations for help, the main problems which were facing the Congo were the withdrawal of Belgian troops and the maintenance of internal peace and order. The crisis would have ended with the Withdrawal of Belgian troops which was effected under relentless pressure from the Secretary-General, acting in accordance with the mandate given to him by the Security Council. Unfortunately, the Belgians left behind them a time bomb which exploded, threatening not only the independence of the Congo and its territorial integrity, but world peace and security and the future of the United Nations. In retrospect and in view of its disastrous results, how irresponsible and narrow-minded Belgian policy has been! The evil seed the Belgians planted in Katanga has prisoned the relations between the Congo Government and the United Nations, endangering the very existence of this Organization.