Well, lets say we got what we need in terms of inspiration from all these great book recommendations. Next step is to try to understand what really happened in Congo during these tumultous years. Of all conflicts, to me, this is one of the more complex ones. A country split into 4-5 regions fighting each other, add Belgian army forces, mercenaries, UN forces from a multitude of countries, CIA, Russian agents and a sprinkle of tribal warfare including cannibalism, machetes, bow and arrow warfare. Here is a humble attempt to describe the timeline:
1960June 30 Independence from Belgium under President Joseph Kasavubu and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
July 4 Armee Nationale Congolaise (ANC) mutiny starts
July 10 Belgian paratroopers intervene to protect civilians
July 11 Katanga under Moise Tshombe declares independence from Congo
July 15 ONUC UN forces starting to arrive in Congo
August 9 South-Kasai under Albert Kalonji declares independence from Congo
August 17Lumuba ask Soviet Union to assist with airlift of ANC forces into South-Kasai
September 5 After refusing to cooperate with Soviet Union, Kasavubu break with Lumumba and Congo is split between the Congo Leopoldville under Kasavubu(backed by USA) and Congo Stanleyville (backed by Soviet Union) under Lumumba and Gizenga
September 12ANC Army Chief of Staff Joseph Mobutu(supported by Kasavubu) arrest Lumumba
November 8 Nine Irish UN soldiers killed in an ambush by Baluba tribesmen in Niemba, northern Katanga. The Baluba probably mistook the Irish for Katangese mercenaries.
December 12 Antoine Gizenga form his own government in Stanleyville
1961January 17Lumumba is flown to Katanga and executed
February 21 Resolution 161 is passed in the UN security council demanding the expulsion of all Belgian troops and mercenaries from Congo
August 28UN Operation RUMPUNCH starts with the objective of disarming the Katangese forces and capturing and repatriating all mercenaries. The operation was initially successful but failed when the Belgian consul should take over to finalize the operation. Only the Belgian troops were sent home while the mercenaries stayed.
September 13 After the RUMPUNCH failure the UN was determined to stop the Katanga secession and launched Operation MORTHOR. While the previous operation hardly saw a shot fired. This time confrontation started immediately and saw four days of heavy fighting between Swedish, Irish and Indian/Gurkha troops and Katangan Gendarmes supported by mercenaries. This included the siege of Jadotville where two companies of Irish UN soldiers were taken prisoner after inflicting 300-1000 casualties without losing a single man.
September 17 UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld dies in an aircrash, potentially shot down by the Katangese
December 5 UN Operation UNOKAT begins, aiming at removing Katangese roadblocks and to end Tshombes resistance to the UN. After heavy fighting the operation ends December 18 when Tshombe agrees to negotiate.
December 30 ANC finalize the reconquest of South-Kasai and Albert Kolonji is arrested
1962December 28After Katangese attacks on UN forces December 24, ONUC initiate Operation Grand Slam to stop Katangese attacks and eliminate the Katanga forces.
1963January 10Tshombe flees to Rhodesia after losing the support of most of the Katangan tribes.
January 15Tshombe declares "I am ready to proclaim immediately before the world that the Katanga's secession is ended."[
JuneTshombe move to Paris, France and thereafter eventually settling in Madrid, Spain
1964January 16The Kwilu rebellion starts when the Lumumba supporter and China trained communist leader Pierre Mulele´s insurgents attacked government outposts, mission stations, and company installations. On January 22 and 23, four European missionaries were killed, and on February 5 the chief of staff of the ANC was ambushed and killed. Troops were immediately sent to the area, and by April a measure of stability had been restored to the area.
AprilThe Lumumba inspired Simba rebellion, supported by Soviet Union and Cuba, starts
JuneUN forces leave Congo
July 10Moise Tshombe is called back from exile to form a government to lead the country in the current crisis
24–27 NovemberOperation Dragon Rouge is carried out by Belgian Paracommandos to free hostages held by Simbas in Stanleyville
1965April 24 Che Guevara arrived in East Congo together with a dozen men (which were later reinforced to 100 men) to support the Simbas
October 13Tshombe was dismissed by Kasavubu and went into exile. Finally deceased in Algeria in 1969
November 21 Che and his men leave Congo
NovemberANC together with mercenary units put an end to the Simba rebellion
November 25 Joseph Mobutu seize power from Kasavubu in a military coup
DecemberThe Kwilu rebellion finally ends
1966JulyMercenary troops 11e, 12e and 14e Commandos together with former Katangan gendarmes mutinied in expectation of a comeback by Tshombe. THe mutiny was cruched by ANC and loyal mercenary commandos
1967JuneBelgian settler Jean Schramme leads a new rebellion with former Katangan gendarmes and mercenary 6e and 10e commandos.
AugustMutiny is crushed by ANC
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April 16, 2024, 11:32:52 PM
July 28, 2010, 02:50:29 PM