SPAIN: MOISE TSHOMBE'S LAST HOME BEFORE HIS CAPTURE AND DEATH.

Record ID: 527186

  • Title: SPAIN: MOISE TSHOMBE'S LAST HOME BEFORE HIS CAPTURE AND DEATH.
  • Date: 30th June 1969
  • Summary: EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR FLAT. Initials JDR/VS/PN/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th July 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA2DG75LSW8EGB73XMSK1KBJY75
  • Story Text: THE FLAT WHICH WAS MOISE TSHOMBE'S LAST HOME BEFORE HE WAS CAPTURED IS IN MADRID. IT IS EXACTLY AS IT WAS WHEN HE WALKED OUT OF IT TWO YEARS AGO TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT WHICH FLEW HIM TO IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH IN ALGERIA.

    TSHOMBE LIVED IN MADRID FROM OCTOBER 1965 AFTER HE HAD FLED FROM THE CONGO. HIS DEATH, ATTRIBUTED TO A HEART ATTACK, REMOVES ANOTHER OF THE CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES FROM THE DAYS OF THE CONGO UPRISINGS. IT WAS TSHOMBE WHO, IN 1960, SECEDED THE COPPER-RICH KATANGA PROVINCE OUT OF THE NEWLY DE-COLONISED CONGO REPUBLIC.

    LATER HE WAS FORCED TO FLEE, BUT SOON RETURNED AS PREMIER OF THE ENTIRE REPUBLIC. HIS SECOND AND FINAL DISMISSAL FROM POLITICAL POWER CAME IN THE COUP WHICH RESULTED IN JOSEPH MOBUTU BECOMING PRESIDENT OF CONGO-KINSHASA.

    MOISE TSHOMBE WAS FLYING IN A BRITISH OWNED AND PILOTED AIRCRAFT WHEN IT WAS HI-JACKED IN MID-AIR AND FORCED TO FLY TO ALGERIA. THOUGH NO CHARGES WERE EVER BROUGHT AGAINST HIM IN ALGERIA, HE WAS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH IN THE CONGO AND HE WAS KEPT IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT IN ALGERIA.

    TSHOMBE'S FAMILY IS NOT AT PRESENT IN MADRID, AND HIS FLAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A CARETAKER.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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