Congo Chapter Summaries

In chapter 1, the author puts off by explaining what was happening. In 1961 a civil war is being fought between UN Irish peacekeepers and the newly formed Nation of Katanga, which recently seceded from the Republic of the Congo which is located in South Africa. Congo was the third largest country on the continent of Africa. Then we are introduced to the origins of the Congo. The first citizens of the Congo were Portuguese settlers in 1483, but by 1879 King Leopold II of Belgium set up trading concessions and by 1908 The Belgian government officially took possession of the Congo. In the 1950s Congo became more advanced with river systems, railways, and airfields. At the time that was state of the art in Africa at that time. By 1957, Congo starts …show more content…
So his plan to make an army that can fight in the air and the ground. Katanga rich minions aloud Tshombe to buy Belgian officers and French Veterans who fought in Vietnam. His Air force was One German Dornier bomber, one helicopter out of which the pilot tossed hand grenades and, two Fouga Magister jet. With these weapons of war, Tshombe declared independent. The UN could not allow a country to form when it can already be an important part of winning the cold war. There admedia response is to send in peace keeps. These peace keeps coming from Ireland because the country was an aggressor to another country. When they arrived things were easy, but then Patrice Lumumba is assassinated Native Katangans, who were ordered by Tshombe.
Is thorst the UN to send soldiers not only from Ireland but also came from India and Swedish. The UN will name Conor Cruise O’Brien as their man on the ground. One Company was inspected to defend a compound out of Jadotville. Thirty-Fifth Irish Infantry Battalion is Commanded by Pat Quinlan. He was only told two things before he went to jadotville which were do not start a war with katangan mercenaries and defend jadotville in self