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Battle of Kolwezi
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Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi (French: Bataille de Kolwezi) was an airborne operation by French and Belgian airborne forces that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FLNC). It aimed at rescuing European and Zairean hostages held by FLNC rebels after they conquered the city of Kolwezi. The operation succeeded with the liberation of the hostages and light military casualties.
The city of Kolwezi is situated in the ore-rich region of Shaba (now Lualaba), in the South-East of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In 1978, the city held 100,000 inhabitants in a 40 km2 urban area, with city quarters, separated by hills. It is a strategic spot, as it lies on important roads and railroad lines that link Lubumbashi to Dilolo. There is an airport 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the center of the city.
In March 1978, a meeting took place between Algerian and Angolan officials and militants of the FLNC.[citation needed] Zairian intelligence was made aware of a possible destabilisation operation in the Shaba region, which had a high value because of its mines of precious materials like copper, cobalt, uranium and radium. For some months the Soviet Union had been purchasing all the cobalt available on the free market, but western intelligence did not connect this to the upcoming crisis.[citation needed] The FLNC operation was to be headed by Nathaniel Mbumba.
In May 1978, an uprising took place in Shaba against President Mobutu Sese Seko. On 11 May, a 3,000 to 4,000 man strong FLNC rebel group arrived. The FLNC was supported by foreign mercenaries. Departing from Angola, it had crossed neutral Zambia. Upon arriving, they took about 3,000 Europeans as hostages and carried out various executions, particularly after the intervention of Zairian paratroopers on 15 May. Between 90 and 280 Europeans were killed.
From 15 May, hundreds of rebels started departing the city in stolen vehicles, leaving only 500 men, most of whom were garrisoned in the quarter of Manika and in the suburbs.[citation needed]
Mobutu requested foreign assistance from Belgium, France and the United States; the French advisor René Journiac was swiftly sent to Kinshasa. These powers saw the uprising as proof of a Soviet offensive and decided that an armed intervention was necessary to keep Zaire in the pro-Western camp. An agreement to intervene was struck between France, Morocco, Zaire and the US.
While Western authorities believed that the rebel forces were "manipulated by the Soviets" and assisted by officers from the socialist states of Cuba and the GDR, more recent research has shown that the Katangan rebels "had few connections with the Cuban army or advisors stationed in Angola". Archival documents also suggest that Zairian authorities deliberately exaggerated the threat of Soviet influence to ensure French aid.
On 16 May at 00:45, the French 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, led by Colonel Philippe Erulin, was put on alert. A meeting took place in West Germany between Belgian and French officials to coordinate a common operation. The meeting was a failure, as the French wanted to deploy their forces to neutralise the rebels and secure the city, while the Belgians wanted to evacuate foreigners. Eventually the Belgian Paracommando Regiment was sent independently. Meanwhile, elements of the planned operation started to leak into the press, causing fears that surprise would be lost if swift action were not taken.
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Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi (French: Bataille de Kolwezi) was an airborne operation by French and Belgian airborne forces that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FLNC). It aimed at rescuing European and Zairean hostages held by FLNC rebels after they conquered the city of Kolwezi. The operation succeeded with the liberation of the hostages and light military casualties.
The city of Kolwezi is situated in the ore-rich region of Shaba (now Lualaba), in the South-East of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In 1978, the city held 100,000 inhabitants in a 40 km2 urban area, with city quarters, separated by hills. It is a strategic spot, as it lies on important roads and railroad lines that link Lubumbashi to Dilolo. There is an airport 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the center of the city.
In March 1978, a meeting took place between Algerian and Angolan officials and militants of the FLNC.[citation needed] Zairian intelligence was made aware of a possible destabilisation operation in the Shaba region, which had a high value because of its mines of precious materials like copper, cobalt, uranium and radium. For some months the Soviet Union had been purchasing all the cobalt available on the free market, but western intelligence did not connect this to the upcoming crisis.[citation needed] The FLNC operation was to be headed by Nathaniel Mbumba.
In May 1978, an uprising took place in Shaba against President Mobutu Sese Seko. On 11 May, a 3,000 to 4,000 man strong FLNC rebel group arrived. The FLNC was supported by foreign mercenaries. Departing from Angola, it had crossed neutral Zambia. Upon arriving, they took about 3,000 Europeans as hostages and carried out various executions, particularly after the intervention of Zairian paratroopers on 15 May. Between 90 and 280 Europeans were killed.
From 15 May, hundreds of rebels started departing the city in stolen vehicles, leaving only 500 men, most of whom were garrisoned in the quarter of Manika and in the suburbs.[citation needed]
Mobutu requested foreign assistance from Belgium, France and the United States; the French advisor René Journiac was swiftly sent to Kinshasa. These powers saw the uprising as proof of a Soviet offensive and decided that an armed intervention was necessary to keep Zaire in the pro-Western camp. An agreement to intervene was struck between France, Morocco, Zaire and the US.
While Western authorities believed that the rebel forces were "manipulated by the Soviets" and assisted by officers from the socialist states of Cuba and the GDR, more recent research has shown that the Katangan rebels "had few connections with the Cuban army or advisors stationed in Angola". Archival documents also suggest that Zairian authorities deliberately exaggerated the threat of Soviet influence to ensure French aid.
On 16 May at 00:45, the French 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, led by Colonel Philippe Erulin, was put on alert. A meeting took place in West Germany between Belgian and French officials to coordinate a common operation. The meeting was a failure, as the French wanted to deploy their forces to neutralise the rebels and secure the city, while the Belgians wanted to evacuate foreigners. Eventually the Belgian Paracommando Regiment was sent independently. Meanwhile, elements of the planned operation started to leak into the press, causing fears that surprise would be lost if swift action were not taken.
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