by the Belgian government and in particular the Katanga Mining Union (Union Minière du Haut Katanga) producing 70% of the Congo's wealth. Prime Minister Lumumba sought assistance from the US and the United Nations (UN) to bring in a peace-keeping force until a settlement could be negotiated with Katanga, but the request was denied. The UN Force in the Congo at that time was only to assist in the operational function of the new government. Lumumba then threatened to seek Soviet assistance to end the Katanga secession, followed by the staunchly anti-communist General Mobutu's September 14th coup d'état, ousting Prime Minister Lumumba and President Joseph Kasa-Vubu from power. However, Mobutu allowed Kasa-Vubu to remain in power as Kasa-Vubu had never been supportive of separation from Belgium i.e. western influence. Lumumba was placed under house arrest under UN protection, but the building was surrounded by Congolese soldiers. With his life under threat, Lumumba attempted to escape in the back of a diplomat's car hoping to reach his supporters in Stanleyville. General Mobutu's soldiers were waiting for him at a roadblock, however; they captured and turned him over to the Belgian military in Katanga Province who tortured and executed him. Later, Devlin served as station chief in Laos, where he led the secret war against communist guerillas, the Pathet Lao. Then he was chief, Africa Division. He retired from service with the CIA in 1974. Subsequent to his CIA employment, Devlin settled with his wife in the Congo and became the business agent of Maurice Tempelsman, the diamond, cobalt and uranium booker, who advised the Mobutu Government on its dealings. Devlin also socialized widely in the expatriate community of Kinshasa during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In later life, Devlin divided his time between Virginia and Provence, France. Devlin's book Chief of Station, Congo is his account of his firsthand experiences and observations in the Congo during the Cold War. Seth Greenland's satirical 1997 play Jungle Rot appears to be loosely based on Devlin's tenure in the Congo. References External links 'Chief of Station' Recalls Congo During Cold War March 13, 2007 Fresh Air Transcript of Correspondent: Who Killed Lumumba?, featuring Devlin American spies People of the Central Intelligence Agency People of the Congo Crisis History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1922 births 2008 deaths United States Army officers American expatriates in France