Congolese National Liberation Front
Congolese National Liberation Front | |
---|---|
Front de libération nationale congolaise | |
Left-wing | |
Size | 1,600–3,000 |
Allies | MPLA |
Opponents | Zaire UNITA |
Battles and wars |
The Congolese National Liberation Front (French: Front de libération nationale congolaise, FLNC) is a political party funded by rebels of Katangese origin and composed of ex-members of the Katangese Gendarmerie. It was active mainly in Angola and Zaire during the 1970s.
The FLNC was formed in Angola under the leadership of Nathaniel Mbumba, with the goal of expelling Mobutu Sese Seko, the leader of Zaire. The FLNC is best known for its two attempted invasions of Katanga Province (renamed Shaba) in Zaire in 1977 and 1978. These incursions, which threatened Mobutu's regime, sparked two international wars, Shaba I and Shaba II, further complicating the Angolan Civil War. The FLNC became a member of the political life of Zaire after the year 1991, and then later a member of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Foundation
The FLNC originated as the
The FLNC did not have any political program other than ending Mobutu's grip on Zaire.[4] FLNC troops were said to have been trained by Cuban advisers.[5]
The FLNC was formed in Angola under the leadership of Nathaniel Mbumba with the goal of expelling Mobutu Sese Seko, the leader of Zaire.
Shaba I
The FLNC, numbering about 1500 people, invaded Shaba (the new name of the Katanga) from eastern Angola on 7 March 1977. Seeking to overthrow Mobutu, the FLNC quickly captured
Shaba II
During the Shaba II intervention, 4000 rebels took the city of
Later actions
Mbumba was expelled from the party in 1987.
See also
Notes
- ^ http://freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC501_scans/PFOC/501.pfoc.CongoZaire.81.pdf
- ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 292.
- ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 56.
- ^ a b Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 234.
- ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 262.
- ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 292-3.
- ^ Schraeder, Peter J. United States Foreign Policy Toward Africa: Incrementalism, Crisis and Change, 199. Pages 87-88.
- ^ Constantine Panos Danopoulos and Cynthia Ann Watson. The Political Role of the Military: An International Handbook, 1996. Page 451.
- ^ Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere, and John Mukum Mbaku. Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences, 2003. Page 228.
- ^ Tanca, Antonio. Foreign Armed Intervention in Internal Conflict, 1993. Page 169.
- Agence France Presse (18 May 2018). "RDC : il y a 40 ans, la France intervenait à Kolwezi". Africanews(in French).
- Radio France International(in French).
- ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 296.
- ^ Reyntjens, Filip (2009). The Great African War. Cambridge University Press. pp. 112–113.
- ^ Switzerland: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) (1 July 1997). "République Démocratique du Congo - Feuilles d'information sur les pays" (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- Agence France Presse (24 August 2018). "Ex-rebel chief held in DRC after 'ultimatum' reports". news24.com.
References
- Meditz, Sandra W.; Merrill, Tim (1993). Library of Congress Country Study Zaire 1993. Library of Congress.
Further reading
- Erik Kennes and Miles Larmer, The Katangese Gendarmes and War in Central Africa: Fighting their Way Home, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2016. Pp. 318. $35 (pbk).
- Official website