I wanted to study the enemy on his home grounds. - Joseph Kasa-Vubu

. We can affirm, without fear of contradiction by history, that the assistance of the African countries which hastened to our aid in a brotherly way has been a decisive if not a determining element in our victory against foreign interest.

Our experience has taught us that mutual confidence and respect between partners constitutes the basis of success of all efforts at unity.

Belgium then had the wisdom not to oppose the current of history, and-a deed without precedent in the story of peaceful decolonisation-she let our country pass directly from foreign domination to full independence.