With thanks to journalist and author Maurin Picard for passing on a recent interview with Madame Monique Rime, who was Vlado’s personal secretary in the Congo in 1961; published in La Liberte (Switzerland), written by Kessava Packiry. Maurin has just published a new book called “Katanga! The forgotten war of Francafrique against the UN”, I look forward to read it! Thanks to Hynrich Wieschhoff for passing on an English translation of Madame Rime’s interview, and for sharing the latest Hammarskjold investigation news that “Chief Justice Othman has delivered his report to Secretary-General Guterres. It will be made available to the public on October 18.” We continue to urge the US and UK to cooperate fully with the investigation.

From Packiry’s interview with Madame Rime:

Does it still hurt to talk about Africa again?
The year 1961 was intense with many dramas. When I left ONUC in December 1961, I didn’t want to hear about Africa anymore, it was like that for decades. I think I was too young, ill-prepared for all that and even now, these painful memories are deeply embedded in my memory.
The UN was intent on continuing with its Secretary-General’s mission. A few days after his death, Monique Rime found herself in a delegation flying to Ndola. “I had been assigned to this mission because I knew all the files. As we approached the airport, we flew over the wreck of the Albertina (the nickname of the Swedish DC-6 chartered by the UN, editor’s note), which had crashed in the forest. That image is still in my head.

*Update: 18 October 2024, Eminent Person’s report A/78/1006