This book provides a history of the roots of FNLC (Front for the National Liberation of the Congo: ex-Katanga Gendarmerie) in Angola and Zaire, political situation under Mobutu regime, FNLC incursions into Zaire border since 1977 (“Shaba Wars I and II”) and subsequent hostage taking in mining town of Kolwezi. The author describes the subsequent French Foreign Legion and Belgian Para Commando airborne operation and freeing of the hostages, together with practical destruction of the FNLC as fighting force.

• Cover
• Copyright
• Contents
• Abbreviations and Acronyms
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Zairian Military Forces
• 3 Foreign Military Forces
• 4 Angolan Powder Keg
• 5 I Shaba War
• 6 II Shaba War
• 7 Conclusions
• Appendix I Killed and wounded Soldiers of the 2e REP in Kolwezi
• Appendix II Members of the French military assistance group in Zaire murdered on 13 May 1978 (ranks in French)
• Appendix III Weapons of the Kolwezi Crisis
• Appendix IV Flying Units involved in Shaba Wars, 1977-1978
• Bibliography
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• About the author
• Plates