Even so, Mobutu's relationship with the U.S. radically changed shortly afterward with the end of the Cold War; with the Soviet Union gone, there was no longer any reason to support Mobutu as a bulwark against communism.

He inferred correctly that they were going to support Mobutu in Zaire, and so advised Admiral Pilchard.

"That's why, to a certain extent, they decided to support Mobutu," this diplomat said about the French.

For years, the United States had supported Mobutu, but had concluded that his rule had grown too corrupt and that Congo had become a potential source of instability.

Lumumba's decision to accept Soviet help angered the US who via the CIA, increasingly supported Mobutu and Kasa-Vubu.

Successive United States Administrations, Republican and Democratic, continued to support Mobutu despite clear evidence that he was stirring a witch's brew for all who shared his table.

With the Soviet Union gone, there was no longer any reason to support Mobutu as a bulwark against communism.

Repression Is His Weapon "We've supported them, yes, and we supported Mobutu," said a Western diplomat with long experience in Africa.

"We will continue to support Mobutu even though we don't like him."

Lumumba's decision to accept Soviet help angered the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the United States who via the CIA, increasingly supported Mobutu and Kasa-Vubu.