Congolese National Liberation Front

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Front for the National Liberation of the Congo
)
Congolese National Liberation Front
Front de libération nationale congolaise
Size1,600–3,000
AlliesMPLA
OpponentsZaire
UNITA
Battles and wars
Shaba Province, Zaire.

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

Nathaniel Mbumba, leader of the FLNC, on a 1978 propaganda poster.

The FLNC originated as the

Katanga Secession, many of the black Katanga troops were forced into exile in Portuguese Angola in the mid-1960s. Led by Nathaniel Mbumba,[2] they fought for the Portuguese colonial power during the Angolan War of Independence and eventually formed the FLNC in 1967. After the defeat of the Portuguese in 1974, they joined the victorious MPLA.[3]

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

Main article: 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

Zairian Armed Forces to beat back the FLNC with air cover from Egyptian pilots flying French-built FAZ Dassault Mirage 5 fighter jets.[6] The Egyptian-Moroccan force pushed the last of the militants, along with several refugees, into Angola and Zambia by April.[7][8][9][10]

Shaba II

Main article: Shaba II

During the Shaba II intervention, 4000 rebels took the city of

Angolan People's Republic after the French Foreign Legion intervention during the Battle of Kolwezi.[13]

Later actions

Mbumba was expelled from the party in 1987.

AFDL rebels led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.[15] The FLNC joined the opposition under Joseph Kabila's presidency.[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ http://freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC501_scans/PFOC/501.pfoc.CongoZaire.81.pdf
  2. ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 292.
  3. ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 56.
  4. ^ a b Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 234.
  5. ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 262.
  6. ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 292-3.
  7. ^ Schraeder, Peter J. United States Foreign Policy Toward Africa: Incrementalism, Crisis and Change, 199. Pages 87-88.
  8. ^ Constantine Panos Danopoulos and Cynthia Ann Watson. The Political Role of the Military: An International Handbook, 1996. Page 451.
  9. ^ Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere, and John Mukum Mbaku. Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences, 2003. Page 228.
  10. ^ Tanca, Antonio. Foreign Armed Intervention in Internal Conflict, 1993. Page 169.
  11. Agence France Presse (18 May 2018). "RDC : il y a 40 ans, la France intervenait à Kolwezi". Africanews
    (in French).
  12. Radio France International
    (in French).
  13. ^ Meditz & Merrill 1993, p. 296.
  14. ^ Reyntjens, Filip (2009). The Great African War. Cambridge University Press. pp. 112–113.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. Agence France Presse (24 August 2018). "Ex-rebel chief held in DRC after 'ultimatum' reports"
    . news24.com.

References

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
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Congolese_National_Liberation_Front&oldid=1183688413"