When he came to power eight months ago, Congolese President Joseph Mobutu faced a tricky military problem. The Simba rebellion had been crushed, but the armies that had done the job were still in business—and dangerous tensions existed among them.
First there were the white mercenaries hired by Mobutu's predecessor and enemy, Moise Tshombe, a tough gang of Belgians, Frenchmen, anti-Castro Cubans and English colonials, all with ties of loyalty to Tshombe. Then there were the 2,500 Katangese "gendarmes," whose fiery red-and-yellow scarves and flashing bush knives had figured in every Congolese conflict since the Tshombe secession of 1960. Finally...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
