congo – first african war and indian soldiers (1960-64)
DESCRIPTION
The UN Operation in the Congo (Operation des Nations Unies au Congo or ONUC) from July 1960 to June 1964 was one of the largest peace-keeping operations established by the UN, in terms of the complex responsibilities, the size of area of operation and the number of peacekeepers involved. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire during Mobutu rule) is the third largest country in Africa with an area of about 1 million square miles.TRANSCRIPT
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CONGO – FIRST AFRICAN WAR AND INDIAN SOLDIERS (1960-64)
KK Sharma
Background
The UN Operation in the Congo (Operation des Nations Unies au Congo or
ONUC) from July 1960 to June 1964 was one of the largest peace-keeping
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operations established by the UN, in terms of the complex responsibilities, the size of
area of operation and the number of peacekeepers involved. Democratic Republic of
Congo (Zaire during Mobutu rule) is the third largest country in Africa with an area of
about 1 million square miles. This country also has an important strategic position
and is exceptionally rich in minerals, much of them found and extracted in the
province of Katanga, inviting a special interest of its neighbours and colonisers. The
inhabitants of this Republic comprise more than 200 tribes, nearly 13.5 million out of
a population of 14 million, who are fiercely loyal to their tribal chiefs and engaged in
life-long feuds with neighbours.
The Belgian administration practiced a policy of paternalism which gave the
indigenous population one of the highest living standards on the continent, but little
political and educational advancement. In 1959, the Belgian Government announced
her intention to prepare the Country for independence and embarked upon a radical
decolonisation plan. Elections to the municipal and territorial councils were held in
December 1959 followed by a round – table conference of the Congolese in Brussels
in January 1960. During this conference Belgium agreed to grant independence to
the country on 30 June 1960.
This was followed by acrimonious debates and resultant tenuous compromise,
whereby the two rival dominant Congolese leaders were elected to two key positions
in a new political structure. Mr Joseph Kasavubu became President of the Republic
with Mr Patrice Lumumba taking over as a Prime Minister. Interestingly, both were to
find different global backers as the conflict arose with the former moving into Western
or American camp and the latter aligning with the Soviet policies.
On 29 June 1960, in a clever manoeuvre to retain its stranglehold on the
mineral rich country, a treaty of friendship, assistance and cooperation was signed
(but never ratified) between Belgium and Congo. Under this treaty, most of the
Belgian administrative and technical personnel were to remain in Congo. But the
most controversial clauses of the treaty pertained to the provision of two military
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bases at Kamina and Kitona, which were ceded to Belgium. It also cleverly stipulated
that the Belgian Government could, at the request of the Congolese Government, call
out the Belgian troops from these bases to assist the latter in maintaining law and
order. Belgium hoped that with this large assistance and the guarantees, it would be
possible to ensure a smooth transition from colonial status to independence and still
retain her control on the mineral riches. Its main hope lay in the Force Publique, the
Army with a strength of over 25,000, which had maintained law and order in the
country in a ruthless yet effective manner during the colonial times and which was to
continue to be commanded by Belgium’s Lieutenant General Emile Janssens, with an
all Belgian officers corps1.
Dr Ralph Bunchea was sent to Congo by the UN Secretary-General in June
1960 to ascertain the economic requirements of the new State and was later
appointed as the special UN Representative (equivalent to the present Special
Representative of the Secretary General) in Congo. Confusion enveloped the country
soon after independence as great expectations of the common people appeared to
have been belied. The euphoria of independence rapidly vanished and tribal violence
broke out at Luluabourg in Kasai. It was preceded by the mutiny of 25,000 soldiers of
the Congolese army (Force Publique), entirely officered by the Belgians. On 4 July
1960, the Congolese troops at Camp Hardy in Thysville demanded the expulsion of
all the Belgian military officers from the Force Publique, and increase in the pay of the
troops. Soon a mutiny broke out in the Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) garrison and
spread to several other cities in the country. As some mutineers attacked Belgians
and other Europeans and also committed atrocities, most Belgian administrators and
technicians fled the country, which led to the collapse of a number of essential
services throughout the country.
The Belgian Ambassador to Congo repeatedly urged Prime Minister Lumumba
to request the assistance of Belgian troops under the friendship treaty, but Lumumba,
a Dr Ralph Bunche was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in Palestine. He was closely involved with the drafting of the Charter of the United Nations. He was appointed as the Special Representative to oversee the UN commitments in Congo by the Secretary General.
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by now hostile to the Western influence in his country, refused. He attempted to
regain control of the Force Publique by agreeing to the Congolese soldiers’ demand
for reforms. He renamed the Force Publique as the Army Nationale Congolaise
(ANC), dismissed General Janssens and appointed Victor Lundula as Commander of
the Army and Colonel Joseph Mobutu as its Chief of Staff2. Ralph Bunche meanwhile
strongly advised the Belgian Ambassador not to call in Belgian troops without the
prior agreement of the Congolese Government. He also advised the Congolese
Government to request for technical assistance of military nature from the UN, which
was agreed to and a formal request to the UN Secretary-General was sent on 10 July
1960. The request was for the specific purpose of calling in experts and technicians,
who could assist Congolese government in developing and strengthening the national
army for national defence.
Belgium in the meanwhile sent its troops into Congo for the declared purpose
of restoring law and order and protecting Belgian nationals. Resultant clashes with
the Congolese forces increased the level of tension and disorder in the nation. In a
well planned move, Moise Tshombe, the provincial president of mineral rich Katanga,
proclaimed the secession on 11 July 1960. Kasai province under King Mulopwe
Albert Kalonji, followed suit and declared its independence. Alarmed at the breaking
of their country, President Kasavubu and Prime Minister Lumumba together sent a
joint telegram to the UN Secretary-General on 12 July 1960 requesting UN military
assistance. The main request was “to protect the national territory of the Congo
against the external aggression which was a threat to international peace”. They
further clarified that they were not asking for aid to restore the internal situation but to
respond to Belgian aggression3.
On 13 July 1960, the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld responded by
invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter – which empowers the Secretary-General ‘to
bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may
threaten international peace and security’. The Secretary-General, relying on the
lessons of first UN Emergency Force in Gaza, recommended establishment of a UN
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peacekeeping force to assist the Congolese Government in maintaining law and
order until its own national security force was able to meet these tasks. He assumed
that in the face of the UN action, the Belgian Government would withdraw its forces.
The Security Council adopted Resolution 143(1960), calling upon the Government of
Belgium to withdraw its forces from Congolese territory and decided “ to authorise the
Secretary-General to take necessary steps, in consultation with the Government of
the Republic of Congo, to provide such military assistance as might be necessary”.
While its original mandate as outlined in Security Council Resolution 143
(1960) remained valid, ONUC was given new responsibilities and new tasks during
the four years of its operation4. These tasks emerged out of the changing ground
situations and the operations on Congo can be briefly grouped under the following
four phases: -
Phase-I (July – August 1960) included restoration of law and withdrawal of
Belgian forces.
Phase-II (September 1960 – September 1961) covered the constitutional
crisis; sacking of the President by the Prime Minister and vice-versa.
Phase-III (September 1961 – February 1963) was the enforcement of the
mandate, restoration of freedom of movement by the UN forces and
termination of the secession of Katanga.
Phase-IV (February 1963 – June 1964) was consolidation of the Congolese
Government and withdrawal of the UN force.
Katanga and the Mercenaries
The UN Security Council had issued various resolutions calling for the
withdrawal of Belgian forces and had opposed the secession of Katanga. However,
Tshombe ignored international sanctions and hired white mercenaries, led by a
former Belgian Colonel “Black Jack” Schramme. Colonel Schramme was sent to
Kasimba, in northern Katanga, where he recruited teenage soldiers from the local
tribes to form his “Leopard Group”. They were the nucleus of what later became the
infamous “10 Commando”. Belgian Major Crèvecoeur, was contracted by Tshombe
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to create a Katangan Gendarmerie. This para-military arm was based upon Belgian
junior officers and police. The gendarmerie numbered nearly 10.000, with 400 original
mercenaries and they were formed into three battalions. These included 5
Commando under Mike Hoare, 6 Commando under the Frenchman Bob Denard, and
Schramme’s 10 Commando. Equipped with weapons and uniforms of the
gendarmerie, they acted as an elite spearhead, forming mobile groups and operating
in columns of eight to nine jeeps. Schramme, Denard and Hoare were commissioned
majors in the Katangan Army, later appointed Colonels. Crèvecoeur and several
other Belgian staff officers were, however, officially appointed as “technical
assistants” to Tshombe and his staff.
Most of the mercenaries were Belgian ex-servicemen recruited in Brussels,
while others had answered advertisements in Johannesburg, Salisbury and
Bulawayo. Some were Frenchmen who had seen service in Algeria while others were
British. Only on arrival were they issued with their service contracts. The mercenaries
were tough men, physically fit, who had joined up for a variety of personal and
political motives. They were present in Elizabethville, Kolwezi, Jadotville and
Albertville (Kalémié), and generally confined their presence to the areas where the
UN forces were not deployed.
Secession and Reinforcement of Katanga
During the latter half of 1960 and early 1961, Moise Tshombe was successfully
reinforcing his military capabilities in Katanga. He was determined to equip Katanga
Air Force with aircrafts and he allegedly purchased nine CM-170 Magisters from
France. On 15 February 1961, a Boeing YC-97 transport was flown by mercenary
pilots Joseph Deulin and Magain and only three of these Magisters were delivered in
Kolwezi. Jan Zumbach (“Mr Brown”), a Polish pilot serving in RAF during World War
II, was contracted to organize and command a KAT - also known as “Avikat” – AT-6-
unit5. The main base of Avikat was Luano airfield. KAT Magisters apparently became
operational during July 1961. By October 1961, the Avikat was reinforced with five
Dornier Do.28As alleged to have been procured from West Germany with South
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African contacts. In late 1961, Katanga also organized its own airline, called Air
Katanga, equipped with one DC-3 Dakota aircraft6.
On 4 April 1961, the Katangese regained the airport at Elisabethville from the
Swedish component and on 7 April 1961 at Manono there was a battle with Ethiopian
ONUC-contingent, leaving several soldiers killed. In the meantime, the Tshombe was
busy building up his military strength and also took a delivery of five Piper Carribeans
from South Africa and a number of paratroopers from the disbanded unit arrived from
Algeria. On 14 April 1961, ONUC was firmly authorised to use force in pursuit of its
goal of retaining the unity of Congo. Increasing the UN role in Katanga, Brigadier KAS
Raja was appointed as the UN commander Katanga with Headquarters in
Elizabethville. Main elements of the Indian Brigade Group Headquarters were located
at Albertville under the command of Lieutenant Colonel MG Hazari, officiating as
Deputy Commander of the Brigade. Later on Colonel VL Sathe joined the Brigade in
September 1961 as a Deputy Commander and took over these duties
The week of September 1961 brought many catastrophes for the UN. The
Secretary-General was negotiating with the national political groups and finally left for
Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) on 17 September 1961, in a DC-6 aircraft along
with his advisers and escort party. He was scheduled to meet Moise Tshombe in
Ndola (in what is now Zambia), for talks to end the ongoing fighting in Southern
Katanga. The aircraft met with a mysterious accident on the border between Katanga
and Northern Rhodesia, bringing to a tragic end to the life of brilliant peacekeeper –
Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld and his 16 other members of the team. Secretary-General
1 The Blue Helmets: A Review of United Nations Peace-keeping, (New York: 1990), pp.215-2172 Ibid, pp.217-183 ibid, p.2194 UNSC. Resolution Adopted by the Security-Council at its 873rd Meeting on 13 July 1960. Document S/4387, 14 July 1960.
5 “CONTINENT ABLAZE; The Insurgency Wars in Africa, 1960 to the Present”, by John W. Turner, Arms and Armour Press, 1998 (ISBN: 1-85409-128-X)6 "AIR WARS AND AIRCRAFT; A Detailed Record of Air Combat, 1945 to the Present", by Victor Flintham, Arms and Armour Press, 1989 (ISBN: 0-85368-779-X)
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Dag Hammarskjöld lost his life on 17 September 1961 in the crash of his airplane on
the way to Ndola where talks were to be held for the cessation of hostilities (as per
the ONUC web site). The accident still haunts everyone from that era for its mystery7 ,
as the Secretary-General was the only one recognized after the accident as his
body/he was thrown out, while others were charred with the aircraft. It was a true
sacrifice in search of peace by an ardent believer of the instrument of UN
peacekeeping.
In a brief piece written for a radio program in 1953, Dag Hammarskjöld
had spoken of the influence of his parents: "From generations of soldiers and
government officials on my father's side I inherited a belief that no life was more satisfactory than
one of selfless service to your country - or humanity. This service required a sacrifice of all
personal interests, but likewise the courage to stand up unflinchingly for your convictions. From
scholars and clergymen on my mother's side, I inherited a belief that, in the very radical sense of
the Gospels, all men were equals as children of God, and should be met and treated by us as our
masters in God8."
30 years later, the Chairman of the Truth Commission in South Africa,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu released documents he said suggested, a Western plot
was behind the death of the head of the United Nations in 1961. “The commission
has discovered...documents discussing the sabotage of the aircraft in which the U.N.
Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold died on the night of September 17 to 18,
1961,” Tutu told a news conference. “We have been unable to investigate the veracity
of these documents and of allegations that South Africa or other Western intelligence
agencies were involved in bringing about the air crash,” he said.
The documents came from the South African Institute for Maritime Research
(SAIMR) - said to be a front company for the South African military. These documents
included the references to the meeting of US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and
the British MI5 security service and stated, “In a meeting between MI5, special
operations executive and the SAIMR, the following emerged,” reads one document
7 Not all of the details of the crash are known; for in-depth discussions see Gavshon, The Last Days of Dag Hammarskjöld and Thorpe, Hammarskjöld: Man of Peace.8 Aulén, Gustaf, Dag Hammarskjöld's White Book: An Analysis of "Markings". Philadelphia, Fortress, 1969.
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marked Top Secret, “it is felt that Hammarskjold should be removed.” “I want his
removal to be handled more efficiently than was Patrice (Lumumba),” the document
said. The CIA opened its files on Cold War assassinations in 2002, and admitted it
ordered the murder of Patrice Lumumba. Another letter headed “Operation Celeste”
gives details of orders to plant explosives in the wheel bay of an aircraft primed to go
off as the wheels were retracted on takeoff. Hammarskjold and 15 other people were
killed when their aircraft had just about gained height over then Northern Rhodesia,
now Zambia. “We have it on good authority that UNO will want to get its greedy paws
on the province,” reads a letter dated July 12, 19609.
While the ONUC officials were still recovering from the aftermath of the
accident, the UN command in Katanga had no options but to accept late Secretary-
General’s direction to cease-fire immediately. As envisaged under the cease-fire
agreement, the prisoners were exchanged by both sides. Post office and Radio
Katanga in Elizabethville were restored to the Katanga authority. Local civil
authorities and the Katangese Gendarmerie were permitted entry in Elizabethville
airfield and some other places in Katanga. Thus the ‘Status Quo Ante’ was restored;
resulting in Tshombe becoming more confident and increasingly aggressive than ever
before. In early October 1961, a strong anti-UN Campaign was organised by
interested parties in the neighbouring countries of Angola, Brazzaville Congo,
Rhodesia and South Africa and funds were also collected to aid these campaigns. At
the same time Premier Adoula assailed the cease-fire agreement between the UN
and the Katanga Government, and announced that his Government would resort to
its own means to put an end to the secession of Katanga. On 20 October, 5000 ANC
troops made their first bid to that effect by attacking the Gendarmerie in North
Katanga. Although they gained some initial successes and stationed themselves in
Albertville, their offensive did not last for a very long time.
Enlargement of UN Enforcement Action through Air
Involvement of Fouga aircraft in attacking UN positions and other mysterious
sightings of aircraft in the skies of Katanga, forced the UN to induct its own combat air
9 Reuters, August 19, 1998
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element in Congo. The UN air component was constituted under command of Air
Commodore Morrison, from the Royal Canadian Air Force and consisted of six Indian
Air Force (IAF) Canberra, four Ethiopian Air Force American F-86F Sabres. Later on
three Saab J-29B Tunnan fighters and two S-29C unarmed reconnaissance fighters
of Swedish Air Force F22 Squadron also joined the force. 16 AMI C-119s and a
combined UN Dakota squadron commanded by Wing Commander KL Suri and later
under Wing Commander R Singh with crew members of different air forces were also
available to the UN for the transport fleet.
No. 5 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF), known as “Tuskers”, led Indian
air components in the volatile situation of Congo in the 1960s. The unit had six
Canberra B (I) MK-58 fighter aircraft with the aircrew and ground support personnel10.
The Squadron was commanded by Wing Commander AIK Suares. The first
contingent accompanying four out of the six aircraft from the Squadron left Agra and
flew to Jamnagar on 9 October 1961, to the tunes of Para Brigade band. First group
left the Indian shores on the 11 October 1961 and landed at Aden in Yemen which
was their first transit point. From Aden they flew to Nairobi, a three hours journey
which was extremely challenging as they flew over a very difficult terrain. On 12
October 1961, the contingent reached Leopoldville in Congo, after which Wing
Commander AIK Suares and his team reported to Air Commodore Morrison and were
inducted into the Mission immediately11.
After arriving in Congo, the Canberra team adopted an intensive flying
schedule to familiarise themselves with the environment around. The Squadron was
given its area of responsibility over the most hostile and troublesome southern
Katanga aligned with the Indian ground forces. The Canberras practiced low level
(500 feet) and night flying over the area of operations. They started their operations
by attacking and destroying certain mercenary positions in the strategically significant
town of Kolwezi. The rebels had a substantial air component which comprised old
10 Chris Wren, “The Canberras in Congo”, the Indian Air Force Golden Jubilee Report; pp.78-80 11 Official report of the Indian Air Force on IPKF in Congo in support of United Nations in 1961, pp.1
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aircraft including Fouga, which posed a great danger to the UN freedom of movement
in the area. The Squadron was given the task of locating and destroying this air
component.
The Canberras repeatedly raided Katangan targets and were instrumental in
providing the much needed long range air support to the UN Katanga ground forces.
Some of targets were 1,000 kilometres away and the route had with an intense cloud
cover over. The pilots used many ingenious methods to lead themselves on to the
targets. The pilots used a prominent lake, to the west of Kolwezi and then combined
this land mark with some old map-reading over the final leg to the airfield, using the
Green Satin airborne navigation aid. In one of the air to air combat actions, the
Squadron Commander made a bold decision of making an air dive through the cloud
and went over to an altitude of 400 feet over the surface of the lake, while chasing
and attacking Katangan Fouga aircraft12. Wing Commander Suares carried out this
daring yet risky engagement profile, using 20mm cannon. This was followed by
another attack by Flight Lieutenant Gautam, which surprised the unsuspecting Fouga
pilot and resulted in the destruction of CM-170 Fouga Magister aircraft. By the efforts
of these two officers, the IAF was able to establish a near air supremacy over the
skies of Elizabethville and Kamina.
After much persuasion, finally the Belgian Government issued a communiqué
on 6 November 1961, warning all Belgian citizens that if they continued to serve in
Katangese forces, their passports would be withdrawn. This resulted in many Belgian
officers leaving Katanga. However, Tshombe intensified his anti-UN campaign and
started hectic preparations for a show-down with the UN causing violence in many
areas. The law and order situation in the whole of Katanga deteriorated immensely in
November 1961. The acting UN Secretary-General, U Thant, adopted a tough policy
towards Katanga and refused to be influenced by the power politics in New York. This
gave the UN in Congo operational freedom to react in the mission as per a situation.
On 17 November 1961 he signed an agreement with the Congolese Foreign Minister,
12 Vayu, Jan 2006; pp.119-24.
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Mr. Bomboko, giving the UN troops and officials full freedom of movement throughout
Congo. On the other hand, sporadic attacks on the UN continued. In one such
incident, while attempting to save two kidnapped UN civilian representatives from
Katangan troops, Major Ajit Singh of 1/3 GR risked his own life. Along with his driver,
this brave officer engaged the mercenaries in a gun battle in order to provide security
to the unarmed civilian UN personnel, finally succumbing to the bullet injuries
sustained during the fire-fight; however, not before he had extricated all civilians and
seen to their security and safety.
Operation UNOKAT
From 2 December 1961 onwards the number of violent incidents increased
and ultimately led to open hostilities. The Gendarmerie started attacking the UN
troops and set up road-blocks in various areas. Katanga was also experiencing the
full impact of the new Secretary-General’s strong policy. Heavy reinforcements were
sent to Katanga from all other parts of Congo in order to take immediate and forceful
action against the Gendarmerie. The UN Air Force was also boosted with the joining
of four F-86 jets from Ethiopia. The ONUC forces were divided into two groups to
facilitate operational command and control. The ONUC launched Operation UNOKAT
with the aim of attaining the freedom of movement of the UN forces and capture of
strategic points.
As a part of Operation UNOKAT, air element was used effectively for the first
time in a planned manner by the Indian Brigade Group against the rebels. The
operation was launched on 5 December 1961. The IAF Canberras were tasked to
attack the airfields at Jadotville and Kolwezi. Wing Commander AIK Suares had first
to find the most identifiable lake due west of Kolwezi, and then map-read over the
final leg to the airfield. With a cloud base at only 120 metres above the surface of the
lake, flying was hazardous. Just as the Canberras arrived over Kolwezi, a light
transport aircraft was seen taking off and rapidly disappearing into the low clouds; two
large transports were parked near the control tower, while other aircraft were parked
near the main runway. Suares strafed the parked aircraft using 20mm cannon, while
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Flight Lieutenant Bob Gautam destroyed the sole Fouga Magister on ground. The two
Canberras made two more passes, setting most of the aircraft, the control tower, and
the nearby fuel depot afire before making way for four additional Indian bombers
following their raid.
The first strike against Kolwezi was a huge success, where not only that Indian
Air Force pilots had taken out the an operational Magister, but also destroyed Do.28s,
one each of DC-3, a DC-4, Dove aircraft and disabled the second Magister. The
second strike was abandoned midway, as Suares’ Canberra was hit by ground fire
and his navigator was injured. The flight had to abandon its attack and return to
Kamina, the base of the UN Air Force. Subsequently, Wing Commander AIK Suares
with his team carried out effective offensive air support over Kolwezi. After locating
the rebel positions, the Indian Canberras carried out low-level flying sorties and
engaged these positions with cannon fire. After testing rebel reaction capability, a
deliberate offensive action was then under-taken by another team led by Flight
Lieutenant Dushyant Singh, who raided the rebel hideout in the Post Office area. The
Canberras encountered strong anti-aircraft firing from the rebels. The lead pair of the
aircraft distracted all the anti-aircraft guns, while the following aircraft destroyed road
convoys, ammunition dumps and some key locations of the rebels. In the weeks
following these attacks, the squadron made many such operational sorties around
Elizabethville. The Canberras also carried out armed reconnaissance sorties,
engaging rebel lines of communications and hideouts. The squadron had an added
capacity of photo reconnaissance, which was made full use of by the ground forces.
This included both photographic and visual reports on the conditions of bridges in
rebel held territory; movement of the rebel forces and their concentrations.
The UN forces in Katanga were engaged in active operations with the
mercenaries and Katanga armed Forces in all the sectors. Indian troops clashed with
Katangan column moving from Jadotville towards Elizabethville, near Sabena
Guesthouse. Using recoilless rifles, the Indians knocked out one M-8 Greyhound
scout car and a “home-made” Momouth tank, built on caterpillar chassis, and
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disabled several armoured trucks and other vehicles, forcing the opposition to pull
back.
During one such incident on 5 December 1961, 3/1 GR was ordered to clear a
roadblock established by the gendarmerie at a strategic roundabout at Elizabethville.
The plan in brief was that one company of the Battalion with two Swedish armoured
cars would attack the position frontally. Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria with two
sections of his Company and two Swedish armoured personnel carriers would
advance towards this roadblock from the airfield to act as a cut-off force. Captain
Salaria and his small force came under heavy automatic and small arms fire from an
undetected enemy position dug in on his flank. The mercenaries had two armoured
cars and about 90 men opposing Captain Salaria's small force.
Captain Salaria appreciated that he had run into a subsidiary roadblock and a well
laid out ambush, and that this mercenary force might reinforce the strategic round-
about, thus jeopardising the main operation. He decided to remove this opposition on
his own. He led a charge with 16 men armed with bayonets, Khukris and grenades
supported by a rocket launcher. In this gallant engagement, Captain Salaria and his
sections killed 40 mercenary and knocked out their two armoured cars. This
unexpectedly bold action completely demoralised the opponents who fled despite
their numerical superiority and protected positions.
In the ensuing charge, Captain Salaria was wounded by a burst of
automatic fire in his neck but continued to fight till he collapsed owing to bleeding and
subsequently died of his wounds. Captain Salaria's personal example, utter disregard
for personal safety, and dauntless leadership inspired his small but gallant force of 26
soldiers to dominate the enemy and inflict heavy casualties despite the enemy's
superiority in numbers and dominating position. For his leadership, courage, and
unflinching devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety in the best traditions of
Indian Army, he was recognised by an award of ‘Param Veer Chakra’, the highest
gallantry award for bravery in war conditions, the only one so far to a soldier on UN
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Peacekeeping duties. 3/1 GR captured the round-about from the mercenaries.
Similarly, on 6 December 1961, Lance Naik Ram Bahadur of the same Battalion
distinguished himself, while fighting with his ‘B’ company for Manono position in the
same area. He single-handedly killed nine rebels who were impeding the Company
advance with a strategically sited machine gun. He rushed on to the position
fearlessely and destroyed the machine gun, but fell to the fierce firing of the rebels.
His bold action won back Manono position for the Battalion. His act of outstanding
courage and bravery was rightly rewarded with a Mahavir Chakra, the second highest
gallantry award of the Indian Army.
As the operations gained momentum, for the first time the UN Secretary
General in consultation with the Security Council gave a free hand to deal with hostile
action of the Katangese authorities13. The Secretary-General also instructed the UN
command to take whatever action was required to ensure freedom of movement of
the UN personnel and the restoration of law and order in Katanga; so that the UN
resolutions could be implemented fully. With the Operation aiming at restoring the
UN’s freedom of movement with minimum blood-shed, fighting inside Elizabethville
was scrupulously avoided by the UN. All possible attempts were made by the forces
to capture many strategic points around the city and thereby forcing the rebels to
withdraw southwards. By 19 December 1961, the UN troops succeeded in gaining all
their objectives and several positions of the Gendarmerie were occupied by them.
They also dominated the town of Elizabethville, thus breaking the backbone of rebel
resistance.
The Kitona Agreement
With the successes of the UN operations, Mr Moise Tshombe realised the
futility of fighting against the UN forces. He agreed to fly to Kitona in order to talk with
Premier Adoula; and after two days of discussions they signed a declaration where
he accepted the national constitution, recognised the ‘indissoluble unity’ of the
Republic of Congo with President Kasavubu as its Head of State. He also agreed to
13 Chakravorty, ‘Armed Forces of the Indian Union: The Congo Operation 1960-63’, p.94.
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recognise the authority of the Central Government over all parts of the Republic and
agreed to send representatives to a meeting of a Governmental Commission in
Leopoldville to study a draft constitution. He pledged to take ‘all necessary steps’ to
enable Katanga officials to perform their mandate within the Government of the
Republic, agreed to place the Katanga Gendarmerie under the authority of the
President of the Republic and pledged to implement the UN General Assembly and
Security-Council Resolutions14.
In view of the Kitona Agreement, the UN forces were issued a directive to
scale down their operations and fire only in self defence. They were to ensure
freedom of movement by extensive patrolling and suitably deal with any opposition
that may be encountered. The forces were directed to avoid destruction of civil
property and tasked to take action against any one indulging in the act of looting or
pilfering15. Unfortunately, the Kitona Agreement did not put an end to Katanga
secession and minor acts of violence between the Gendarmerie and the UN troops
continued. Politically, ONUC managed to apply steady pressure on Tshombe. It was
in the same period that the Kasai secession also ended. On 15 February 1962, the
Katanga Assembly adopted the Kitona Agreement “as a potential basis of discussion
with a view to the settlement of the Congolese Conflict”, and also authorized the
Government of Katanga to establish contact with the Central Government. From
March till June 1962, Tshombe continued talking with Prime Minister Adoula, but they
could not reach common ground. Planning to resurrect his military capabilities,
Tshombe used this pause in fighting and had flown to Geneva. Using various
intermediaries, Tshombe acquired six T-6Gs ex-USAF stocks in Belgium and after
testing them in Switzerland; these were flown to Antwerp and then delivered to
Luanda, in Angola, in May 1962. These were alleged to have been assembled by
Portuguese Air Force technicians and then flown to Kolwezi. These aircraft were
eventually distributed between airfields at Kipushi, Kolwezi, Jadotville, Kisenge and
Dilolo, well outside the UN-controlled zones16.
14 Ibid, p.102
17
Indian Troops Turn-Over
The first turn over of the Indian Independent Brigade Group took place from
March to May 1962. Major General
Dewan Prem Chand assumed the
command of Headquarters Katanga Area
on 3 May 1962, while Brigadier KAS Raja
was replaced by Brigadier RS Noronha.
The brave air force crew under Squadron
Leader Suares returned to India in April
1962 and was replaced by another set
under Wing Commander S Jena17. New
units came to Katanga and replacement was carried out in an orderly and in well
planned manner, even when sporadic skirmishes were going on with the rebels. The
task of the new Indian Air Force contingent was primarily of reconnaissance, and to
be standby for operations with the UN forces if required. Their main air base was in
Leopoldville, while they also maintained a permanent two aircraft detachment at
Kamina airfield. Air Commodore Verma took over as the over all UN Air Force
Commander from a Swedish Air Force Officer18.
4th battalion, The RAJPUTANA RIFLES (4 RAJ RIF) under Lieutenant Colonel
FP Shinde boarded the UN’s troop ship, ‘USNS Major General Blatchford’ in Bombay
on 16 March 1962 and reached Dar-es-Salam on 19 March 1962. The Battalion
thereafter travelled on trains, barges and road to finally reach Elizabethville on 28
March 1962. The Battalion relieved 1 DOGRA and was initially given the arduous task
of ‘escorting trains bringing refugees’ from Elizabethville. On 26 June 1962, one such
train was involved in a head-on collision with a goods train. Prompt actions by the
escorting soldiers’ ensured quick first aid and evacuation of injured. 4 th Battalion, the
15 ibid, p.10616 "AIR WARS AND AIRCRAFT; A Detailed Record of Air Combat, 1945 to the Present", by Victor Flintham, Arms and Armour Press, 1989 (ISBN: 0-85368-779-X)17 Chakravorty, ‘Armed Forces of the Indian Union: The Congo Operation 1960-63’, pp.1-418 Official report of the Indian Air Force on IPKF in Congo in support of United Nations in 1961, pp.1-4
Components of the Brigade Group:
Headquarters Indian Brigade Group, Squadron AMX tanks 121 Heavy Mortar Battery, 4 RAJPUTANA RIFLES (OUTRAM), 4 MADRAS, 2/5 GORKHA RIFLES, 22 Field Company Engineers, Brigade Signal Company, D Company 4 MAHAR, Medium
Machine Gun elements
18
MADRAS Regiment (4 MADRAS) under Lieutenant Colonel DS Randhawa, the next
unit to leave India, embarked at Bombay on 25 April 1962 and reached Dar-es-Salam
on 5 May 1962. The Battalion was airlifted to Elizabethville the same day. Militarily,
the situation in Katanga still continued to be full of confusion and chaos. Despite
Tshombe giving assurances, there was no freedom of movement for the UN troops in
the areas which were not held by them. 4 RAJ RIF came face to face with a violent
anti-UN demonstration on 17 July 1962, in which women and children were used by
Katangan politicians to show their anger at the UN force. The situation went out of
control; due to the firing by Katangese troops and the company of 4 RAJ RIF had to
use unusual weapons – locally fabricated baton, as well as fire in air, in order to
control the situation. Indian Army is definitely not trained to use non-lethal force or
police actions, yet the restraint shown by troops was remarkable and appreciated by
all in the UN Force Headquarters.
At the political front, in Leopoldville, the Congolese Government was engaged
in drafting a Federal Constitution in order to replace the unitary constitution, to
provide a measure of autonomy and federal governance in various provinces in the
hope that Katanga will relent from the path of confrontation. The UN Secretary-
General also thought about applying economic pressures on Katanga if it failed or
refused to yield to the UN and Central Government demands. For this purpose the
UN formulated a ‘Plan of National Reconciliation’, which was given to Tshombe and
Adoula for acceptance19. Tshombe just paid a lip service to it and instead of national
reconciliation; his troops began to strengthen themselves by enlisting new
mercenaries and procuring fresh military stores and equipment from friendly
neighbours.
On 29 August 1962, the Gendarmerie Para Commandos set up a road-block
on Martini Board junction in the capital city of Elizabethville; in a total contravention of
the standing agreements. When the efforts to persuade them to withdraw failed, two
platoons of 2nd Battalion, the Gurkha Rifles (2/5 GR) under Lieutenant Colonel ZC
19 Chakravorty, ‘Armed Forces of the Indian Union: The Congo Operation 1960-63’, p.114.
19
Bakshi made a show of exemplary courage and succeeded in driving them away.
Coincidentally, the battalion had two Victoria Cross Winners serving with the unit in
Congo (Subedar Major Gaje Ghale and Subedar Agan Singh Rai20). On 12
September 1962, some officers from 2/5 GR and a troop of Malayan Ferrets were
fired upon in the North of Elizabethville Airfield by over a hundred Gendarmerie. The
UN troops fired back in defence. Another patrol of 2/5 GR suffered casualty due to a
land mine blast, wherein two soldiers were injured. The Kitona agreement of February
1962 had given enough time for the Katanga forces to re-group and re-build
themselves to be a direct threat to the UN forces again.
Operations Jacaranda and Grand Slam
The final round of active military operations by the UN in Katanga was
triggered by an act of violence of Katanga Gendarmerie on 24 December 1962. The
rebels opened fire on the UN road-block in Elizabethville, in contravention to the
provisions of Kitona Agreement. Same day an unarmed UN helicopter on a routine
reconnaissance mission with Captain Jasbir Singh, Second Lieutenant SS Kang, two
non-commissioned officers of 121 Heavy Mortar Battery, one Norwegian Lieutenant
and a Swedish Corporal, was fired upon by the Katangese troops. The helicopter was
badly hit and force-landed in an area occupied by the Gendarmerie. All the
passengers were injured in the firing but instead of giving medical aid, they were
arrested and subjected to physical torture by the Katangese soldiers. In spite of this
grave provocation, Brigadier RS Noronha successfully negotiated release of the
helicopter and the UN personnel. Unfortunately Second Lieutenant SS Kang
succumbed to the injuries received due to crash landing and mal-treatment by the
Katanga troops21. The UN force had reached a breaking point in their self-restraint,
yet held their fire in the hope of peace.
From the last week of December 1962 onwards, the UN positions in
Elizabethville and Jadotville were fired upon repeatedly. Electricity, water connections
20 Fauji Akhbar, “Fifth peace Mission” Volume 10/12 January-June 1963.21 Chakravorty, ‘Armed Forces of the Indian Union: The Congo Operation 1960-63’, pp.117-119
20
and telephone lines linking Elizabethville with the UN areas were also cut. In a
meeting between Tshombe and the UN representatives, it was made very clear to
him that the Katangese Gendarmerie must stop firing and vacate the road-block
around Elizabethville or else the UN would be forced to take action. Instead, the firing
by Gendarmerie intensified and they even planned for night bombardment of the
airfield. Under these grave provocations, the Major general Dewan Prem Chand, the
General Officer Commanding UN Katanga Area issued orders for the implementation
of planned Operation Jacaranda; in spite of usual dithering and mixed signals from
the Force Headquarter level. The Indian Air Force component flew back to India on
12 December, thus closing its “air chapter” in India’s long and significant association
with the UN mission of peace and re-unification in Congo22.
The plan was comprised of two Phases. Phase I envisaged securing of
Gendarmerie road-block/positions around Elizabethville with a view to eliminating
Gendarmerie firing, enlarging the area of freedom of movement of UN troops and
securing whole of Elizabethville for the UN forces to concentrate on other areas.
Phase II envisaged advancing towards Kipushi and Jadotville towns, strongholds of
Katangan forces and the mercenaries. In order to carry out Phase I of Jacaranda, the
Indian Brigade Group launched an operation, code-named “Grand Slam” at 4.15 pm
on 28 December 196223. The troops moved quickly to achieve their objectives. ‘A’
company of 2/5 GR moved into the gymnasium area of Elizabethville and took it over
from the Katangese troops. 4 MADRAS secured Radio Colony area of the city,
advanced towards the outlying town of Karavia town and captured it the next day. In
spite of Gendarmerie reinforcing its positions, 4 Ethiopian Battalion with two
Companies of 2/5 GR, supported by a troop of armoured cars, captured Kasapa. 4
RAJ RIF supported by a troop of 121 Heavy Mortar Battery and a platoon of 4
MAHAR Machine Guns secured Martini Board area in Elizabethville.
22 Fauji Akhbar, “Canberras in Congo” Volume 10/7 January-June 1963.23 ibid, p.120
21
The UN troops secured Simba Hills on 29 December 1962 and after repairing
the bridge linking it over river
Kafubu by 22 Field Company,
Kipushi was also secured. 4 RAJ
RIF in the meanwhile went ahead
and secured the junction of
Kasanga road and Kilobeloba radio
station by 30 December 1962.
Thus by the evening of the same
day, the Indian Brigade Group was
successful in completing the first
phase of the operation. Swiftly, the
UN troops had captured all the
eight road-blocks in Elizabethville.
Tshombe soon saw the UN determination of ending the secession once and for all
and therefore fled to Rhodesia. The ONUC controlled postal, telephone and telegraph
offices, railways and radio stations in order to stop Tshombe’s propaganda against
the UN. 4 RAJ RIF further consolidated the UN positions on 31 December 1962 by
capturing the city’s powerhouse. There was a fierce fight for this all important
powerhouse near Lokoshi. The rebels, realising its importance, had concentrated all
their forces to save it from falling in the UN hands. The Battalion lost four brave
soldiers in the battle. A 0.50 inch machine gun still showcases the battalion prowess
in this bloody encounter and can be seen in the quarter guard of 4 RAJ RIF.
4 MADRAS was tasked to capture Jadotville, nearly 130 kilometres south west
of Elizabethville and an important mining hub for copper and cobalt. The UN troops
started advancing towards the city and encountered several Gendarmerie positions
and heavy firing on the way. With dogged determination and grit, the UN forces
captured all these positions during their advance. To reach Jadotville, two bridges
over Lufira River were of strategic importance, but these were blown up by the
retreating Katangan rebels. 4 MADRAS crossed over on a single girder and
Brave Peacekeeper – Lieutenant VP Trehan
While tackling various road blocks around Elizabethville, 4 RAJ RIF was tasked to capture airport complex and Zaruri junction from Katanga Gendarmerie. On 29 Dec 1962, Lt VP Trehan led a special patrol to distract rebel firing, while the battalion was getting into position for the final assault. The patrol party spotted a Gendarmerie position which would have caused heavy casualty on the battalion. Without wasting time in passing the information to battalion headquarter, Lt VP Trehan with his party decided to attack the rebel position and neutralize it themselves. The assault carried them into the trenches and hand-to-hand combat, but the resolve of this small patrol party forced the rebels to flee. His valiant act protected the exposed flank of the battalion, but he succumbed to his injuries, falling for peace in a country so remote from his homeland. The exceptional act of gallantry won him `Mahavir Chakra’, the second highest gallantry award in India.
22
established planned bridgehead. Soon the battalion was across the crocodile infested
river in a torrential rainy night. Next morning the great innovative spirit was put into
display, when the battalion constructed a ferry with an old raft and crossed all the
vehicles across. When the Indian Independent Brigade Group finally reached
Jadotville, most of the Gendarmes had either withdrawn towards Kolwezi or had gone
into the bush. The remaining ones were rounded up and disarmed. 4 MADRAS was
given the responsibility of security and maintenance of law and order in Jadotville,
and a company of 4 RAJ RIF was kept at the Lufira bridge site. The next plan was put
in place and on 13 January 1963, the troops advanced towards Kolwezi. Tshombe
too had arrived in Kolwezi from Rhodesia, as this was the last stronghold of the
Katangese Gendarmerie. On 14 January 1963, Brigadier RS Noronha with his
Brigade Major and a section escort visited 4 RAJ RIF positions and a blown up bridge
at Dilkulwe. The party came under accurate rebel firing. Sensing the danger to the
Commander and others, the Brigade Major, Major K Sunderji took control of the
section, directing their firing and asking the Commander to move to a safer location.
The officer with the section of 4 RAJRIF effectively neutralised the rebel firing,
showed conspicuous gallantry and presence of mind, winning him a mention-in-
despatches. The officer later rose to become Chief of the Army Staff in Indian Army.
The Indian troops broke the resolute resistance of the Katanga rebels around
Kowlezi, an important stronghold of the rebel movement. Though Kowlezi was yet to
fall to the UN forces, by 14 January 1963, Tshombe was outmanoeuvred in his
favourite game of brinkmanship, politically isolated and militarily defeated. He finally
announced the end of the Katangese secession in a letter to Premier Adoula. After
being assured of protection by the UN, Tshombe signed an agreement in
Elizabethville on 17 January 1963. The agreement was signed in the presence of
ONUC officials, who included among others Major General Dewan Prem Chand and
Brigadier RS Noronha. Tshombe undertook to order his forces everywhere not to
offer any resistance to the UN troops and to surrender all their arms to the latter.
However, in spite of the assurances and agreement, the build-up of the Indian
Brigade and other UN forces for the advance into Kolwezi continued.
“Bogie is five and you are on the green in three. Keep it up. Bogie should be in the bag, but go for the birdie and God willing birdie should not be too difficult:
- Radio message from Major genral Dewan Prem Chand to Brigadier RS Noronha, just before his entry into Kolwezi .
(Fauji Akhbar, “Katanga Chapter Ends”, Vol 13/10, January-June 1963.
23
On 19 January 1963, Brigadier RS Noronha personally led entry of the Indian
Brigade into the town of Kolwezi with the commanding officers of all three Indian
infantry battalions. It was a 321 kilometre advance, in support of peace and
tranquillity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Within a week of arrival in Kolwezi, last
secessionist stronghold was occupied by the UN
forces without any untoward incident. On 21
January 1963, the UN announced the end of
second phase of military operations which had
begun on 28 December 1962 and declared that
the Katangese Gendarmerie had “ceased to exist”
and that “all important centres hitherto held by the Katangese” were now under UN
control. In appreciation of the brilliant service rendered by the Indian peacekeepers,
congratulatory messages came in from various quarters. The mercenary
commanders Schramme and Denard were driven out of the jungle hideouts after
which most of the Katangan Gendarmerie recruits quietly returned to their own
countries, while most of the mercenaries perhaps left for Angola. By 15 January
1963, the UN had established full control over Katanga. Tshombe went into exile in
Spain and his military commander swore an oath of allegiance to the Government of
Democratic Republic of Congo. In February 1963, after Katanga had been
reintegrated into the national territory of the Congo, a phasing out of the Force was
begun, aimed at its termination by the end of that year. At the request of the
Congolese Government, however, the General Assembly authorized the stay of a
reduced number of troops for a further six months. The Force was completely
withdrawn by 30 June 1964. Although the military phase of the United Nations
Operation in the Congo had ended, civilian aid continued in the largest single
programme of assistance undertaken until that time by the world Organization and its
agencies, with some 2,000 experts at work in the nation at the peak of the
programme in 1963-196424.
24 www.un.org
……. one day last week, Secessionist Moise Tshombe slipped out of his pink palace in Elizabethville, climbed into the back seat of a black Comet sedan, and sped off down the road toward the Northern Rhodesian border. Soon an armoured column of 500 United Nations troops was on his tail. For a moment, it looked as if the U.N. were in hot pursuit of its old foe. But no! To the astonishment of bug-eyed natives along the way, Moise was actually leading the blue helmets, urging his own tattered Katangese gendarmes to lay down their arms so the U.N. could re-open vital rail and road links. Bizarre as it was, the incident was an accurate indicator of the way things actually were going last week in the Congo's copper-rich Katanga province, where the U.N. was waging war with Tshombe's breakaway regime for the third time since September 1961. In two weeks, the tough U.N. troops had seized a steadily lengthening ribbon of rail lines and nearly every major population centre in the province. Only the western copper town of Kolwezi remained in Katanga's grip; it was defended by 2,000 boozy gendarmes, 100 of Tshombe's white mercenaries, and a smashing blonde ambulance driver known as "Madame Yvette," who sauntered about in paratroop boots, camouflage uniform, bush hat and shoulder holster. Only 50 miles from Kolwezi, Indian infantrymen probed cautiously forward, waiting only for the signal to head full blast toward the town. But the signal would not be given rashly, for the ragtag mercenaries threatened to blow up a huge dam and industrial installations, leaving the town a blackened shell. They might not be bluffing.
"I Am Back." But with full backing from the U.S. and the Afro-Asian nations, the U.N. was determined to dictate a settlement to Tshombe and make it stick. If it fails, the rest of the Congo, starved of the riches that enable Katanga to account for 65% of the country's exports, could splinter into a score of warring tribal domains. Already a corps of 100 Central Government functionaries was flying into Elizabethville to take charge of Katanga's administration. The big question mark, as usual, was the slippery Tshombe. As the week began, he was holed up defiantly in Kolwezi with the mercenaries. There were rumours that he might flee to Europe rather than give in to the U.N. But he was not surrendering Katanga's top job. Lo and behold, he was back in Elizabethville. "In spite of all the trouble and bloodshed," he declared with MacArthurian grandeur, "I am back." What policy would he follow? No one could say, for before long he was bouncing wildly from one position to another. "Pure India rubber," marvelled a foreign diplomat. …………. In the space of three days, Tshombe 1) promised to "abstain from making any declarations against the U.N."; 2) immediately broke his promise by threatening "a scorched-earth policy" in Kolwezi; 3) was clapped under house arrest by infuriated U.N. officials "to restrain him from further irresponsible acts"; and 4) got his house arrest commuted to a night time curfew by leading the U.N. troops to the Rhodesian border. Then, having baffled everybody, he vanished once more from the capital. ……….
24
An interesting article in Time25 (January 1963) had summed up Tshombe’s
character and his predicament at this point of time:
Humanitarian Work
The 152 General Hospital was under raising in Leh when it was earmarked for
duty in Congo in August 1960. The Indians set up the UN Hospital in Leopoldville in
September 1960; with a 200 bed capacity and later on established 100 bed hospital
in Lulubourg and 50 bed facility at Coquilhatville. Lieutenat Colonel NB Banerjee was
credited with setting up the hospitals under most trying conditions. The Indian hospital
also had 20 nursing officers, serving in all the three hospitals. The hospital provided
medical cover to 20 participating nations and a number of local Congolese civilians.
25 Times. Friday, Jan. 18, 1963
25
22 (Bombay) Field Company Engineers played a crucial part in both combat
engineering tasks, which were to be the boon for the civilian movement in the country
side. Under Major AM Joglekar, the sappers made history by building as many as
nine new bridges thus replacing the destroyed bridges over a stretch of 200 km. The
sappers also de-mined many civilian areas, thus creating safe environment for the
locals.
De-induction of Indian Brigade and Lessons Learnt
Many believed that the UN mission fulfilled its key objectives. The country had
not descended into civil war, super-power rivalry was kept out of a sensitive area,
Congo remained intact by the end of 1963 and political stability was finally achieved.
Also the UN undertook responsibility for the humanitarian programme needed in the
country. However not every nation was pleased by what the UN had achieved.
Russia, France and Belgium refused to pay their part of the $400 million spent to pay
for the cost of the Congo operation. This nearly pushed the UN to bankruptcy. Those
nations that had supported the UN were also critical of some parts of the UN actions.
The role of Dag Hammarskjöld was criticised as it was felt that he had over-reached
his authority regarding what the UN should do and what it should not.
After a successful peace mission, the Indian troops started de-inducting in
early March 1963. The main components of the Brigade reached the shores of
Bombay between 24 March and 19 April 1963. USNS Blatchford and USNS Gordon
brought these troops back. Indian contribution in the ONUC Force was around 28.3
percent of the total26. The Congo mission is considered a brilliant chapter in Indian
experiences in peacekeeping and resolute display of political and military tenacity in
the face of casualties. As was seen later in Somalia, many countries could not stand
the mounting casualties and left Somalia to the war lords. Had India reacted the same
way in Congo, the history and shape of the country would surely have been different.
The Indian troops displayed an exceptional sense of duty in the service of the UN and
26 Chakravorty, ‘Armed Forces of the Indian Union: The Congo Operation 1960-63’, p.146
26
the Government of India did not withdraw the Brigade, even when the casualties were
mounting. It was a true reflection of India’s resolve to an international commitment. 25
officers and men laid down their lives in combat action for the restoration of peace
and maintenance of the integrity of this country. The Indian troops were professional
and extremely well trained for the given tasks. The presence of Indian Air Force
squardon of Canberra aircraft had a marked influence on the very conduct of the UN
operations in Congo.
Writing in ‘Observer’, Colin Legum had said, ‘Much of the credit for the success of the
present Operations in Congo, belongs to two Indian Army officers, Major General Dewan Prem Chand
and Brigadier Reginald Stephen Noronha and an Irishman, Colonel Patrick Delaney…. but the almost
legendary hero of Congo is 44 years old Brigadier Noronha, a burly cheerful man, roars through life
and was equal abandon with his exploits of mercenaries…”.
"The Indian (Independent) Brigade Group can be likened to a very small blanket thrown over a very large man. When the tops of the body gets cold the blanket is drawn up, and when the feet get cold the blanket is moved down again. Not only this, but the blanket had had to get into small pieces to cover at the same time various parts of the body".
- Lieutenant General Sean Mackeown of Ireland, the UN Force Commander
27
End Notes: