Belgian Military Forces in the Congo Volume 2

Although Belgium officially withdrew its military forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in July 1960, unofficially the former colonial ruler of this central African country maintained a political, economic, and military presence throughout the period known as the Congo Crisis, 1960–1967. Belgium's military presence is seen mainly through its relations with the secessionist state of Katanga from 1960 to 1963 and through what was termed “technical assistance”.

By April 1964, the DRC was, once again, threatened by internal conflict that threatened its national integrity. The Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC) being ill-equipped to deal with two separate rebellions that broke out in the Kwilu and Kivu provinces that year, had, nonetheless, the support of a CIA-sponsored air force composed principally of anti-Castro Cuban exiles.