Belgian Military Forces in the Congo Volumes 1-2

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This two-volume history fills a major gap in the study of the Congo Crisis (1960–1967) by examining the role of Belgian military forces in Central Africa from the creation of the Force Publique in the late 19th century through Belgium’s continued presence after Congolese independence.

Volume 1 traces the origins of the Force Publique, founded by King Léopold II to secure the Congo Free State, and its evolution through colonial campaigns, both World Wars, and into the Belgian Congo. It explores how rebellions against the Force Publique foreshadowed the Congo Crisis of the 1960s, while also charting the rise of military aviation in the colony and its links to the later Katangan and Congolese air forces. Richly illustrated, it includes photographs and specially commissioned artworks of weapons, soldiers, and aircraft.
Volume 2 turns to the turbulent years of the Congo Crisis itself, when Belgium – despite officially withdrawing in 1960 – continued to exert influence through military and technical assistance. Focusing on the Force Aérienne Tactique Congolaise (FATAC), it recounts Belgian cooperation with the CIA-backed air force and mercenary units in suppressing the Simba Rebellion, drawing on veteran testimony and newly unearthed documents.
Together, these volumes provide the first authoritative and fully illustrated account of Belgian military involvement in the Congo, offering essential insights into both colonial legacies and Cold War conflicts in Africa.