1 safari club intervention
1.1 diplomacy , media
1.2 initial reactions
1.3 execution
safari club intervention
king hassan ii of morocco sent 1,500 paratroopers fight mobutu
on april 7, plans announced support government of zaire moroccan troops. operation coordinated covert multi-national organization called safari club, anti-communist alliance including france, morocco, egypt, iran, , saudi arabia.
on april 9, moroccan troops airlifted kolwezi on eleven french transall c-160s network of french bases remaining on african continent. egypt provided 50 pilots , technicians, operated mirage jets zairian air force. france assisted faz additional mirage planes, panhard véhicule blindé légers, , aérospatiale sa 330 puma helicopters.
after western military support had arrived in kolwezi, zambia said zaire had bombed village of shingamjunji mangango , kaleni hill mission hospital. angola reported naval attack.
diplomacy , media
a french liaison deployed coordinate zairian forces. french operation (code name verveine ), commanded colonel yves gras, head of french military mission in zaire. morocco provided 1,300–1,500 combat troops, egypt contributed pilots , technical support, , saudi arabia backed operation financially.
moroccan troops increased perception operation internal africa, zaire announcing morocco , african country coming assistance. american government described intervention intra-african, carter announcing not taking position on such action 1 african state @ point in response requests aid african state. our position on outside intervention known. against such intervention. affairs of africa should settled africans.
the french announcement provide airlift, made on april 10, came surprise observers . d estaing emphasized france s independence in conducting operation , specified u.s. had not been consulted beforehand.
idi amin visits mobutu
the u.s. announced additional $13 million of aid, including c-130 transport plane, communications equipment, fuel, , spare parts. andrew young, advised restraint throughout conflict, said u.s. trying align ourselves … concept of territorial integrity in zaire, , of self-determination people of zaire, not ourselves in military conflict. carter continued state there no evidence of cuban involvement. acknowledged zaire not defender of human rights , said our military aid zaire has been modest .
south africa s south african bureau state security in contact zaire , provided fuel , money.
west germany send $2 million worth of medicine , food.
some african states, particularly former colonies of france, supported zaire diplomatically. idi amin , symbolic suicide striking force of ugandan military visited kolwezi in late april—then flew uganda.
initial reactions
the fnlc began make contact press , issued several announcements. representative of katanganese rebels, speaking in paris, criticized intervention economically self-serving, saying stake of french multinationals such alsthom , thomson, , concessions prospecting mineral riches had led france support corrupt regime . jean tshombé, son of former katanganese secessionist leader moise tshombé, criticized intervention , reaffirmed angola, cuba, , soviet union not involved. fnlc subsequently announced specific military successes, saying had defeated zairian military forces 15 miles kolwezi, seizing vehicles , weapons. claimed have killed 2 french soldiers—a claim denied impossible france, said no french soldiers present. group wrote letter international press service:
in contrast published statements of published statements president giscard d estaing, french troops directly involved in fighting taking place in shaba province of zaire. friday, april 15, @ 2 p.m., fighting spread on outskirts of kolwezi. french military man died amid these engagements.
the flnc protests french military intervention in congo s domestic affairs , declined responsibility consequences may bring upon french government.
the flnc calls on french people, whom expresses trust , friendly feelings, demand immediate termination of aggression deliberately carried out against congolese people.
angola declared invaders responsible grave consequences may result intervention in conflict , warning if objective attack angola, popular republic of angola warns africa , world not tolerate foreign intervention . soviet union condemned western bloc , china interfering in strictly internal conflict need not concern outside [zaire].
the alleged zairian bombings of angola , zambia became issue, mobutu accusing soviet union of bombing these countries false flag attack.
french president giscard d estaing ordered french military airlift moroccan troops battle
french intervention met left-wing criticism, domestically , internationally. president giscard d estaing responded action protecting sovereignty of friendly state. foreign minister louis de guiringaud said necessary check soviet influence. french government denied claims military advisors had participated in fighting.
belgium denied claim, made mobutu , quoted in newsweek, involved in conflict, saying assistance had delivered planned.
execution
the war seemed in stalemate, foreign troops , faz massed in kolwezi, little fighting taking place. on april 14, moroccan general ahmed dlimi arrived in kolwezi, , combined zairian , moroccan force counter-attacked. 30 faz casualties reported after fortnight of quiet. joined unit of pygmy archers.
the government , supporting forces reported capturing rebel supplies, including counterfeit money , portuguese- , soviet-manufactured weapons. 2 captured kantangan soldiers said there 1,600 soldiers in shaba, leader nathaniel mbumba, , not being assisted cuba. 1 said, first trained portuguese , after cubans —but there no cubans .
the government displayed 2 captives in stadium rally. @ rally, mobutu again condemned soviet , cuban involvement, , ordered $60,000 worth of coca-cola go along rations faz soldiers. mobutu flew diplomats , journalists kolwezi, met dancing girls , announced total rout of insurgents.
the pro-government alliance recaptured mutshatsha on april 25. village deserted when captured, observers assigned symbolic importance recapture. mobutu held press conference , parade in mutshatsha, telling 47 international journalists continue battle soviet influence in africa. day, international monetary fund said loan zaire $85 million—perhaps, speculated, deter group of private banks canceling loan of planned $250 million. @ request of france , united states, world bank announced upcoming convention solicit additional loans zaire.
david bufkin s mercenaries reported ready fly zaire join anti-fnlc coalition. cia denied request department of justice provide information involvement. bufkin , cia denied claim. operation aborted after safari club intervention proved rapidly successful.
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