United Nations Operation in the Congo

Organisation des Nations Unies au Congo, abbreviated ONUC, (English: The United Nations Organization in the Congo) was a United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of July 14, 1960. From 1963 the name changed to Opération des Nations Unies au Congo, keeping the same abbreviation.

Congo became independent in 30 June 1960, but the Belgian commander refused to "Africanize" the officers' corps of the Force Publique (the army), and because of that disorder and mutinies broke out. While the President and the Prime Minister were trying to negotiate with the mutineers, the Belgian government decided to intervene to protect Belgians that remained in the country at the request of Moïse Tshombé, who advocated independence for Katanga, one of the richest provinces in the country.

On July 10, Belgian troops were sent to Elisabethville, the capital of Katanga, to control the situation and protect Belgian civilians. With the help of the Belgians, Tshombé proclaimed the independence of the province. On 12 July, the President and the Prime Minister asked for help of the UN. The Secretary-General addressed the Security Council at a night meeting on 13 July and asked the Council to act "with utmost speed" on the request.

At the same meeting, the Security Council adopted resolution 143 (1960), by which it called upon the Government of Belgium to withdraw its troops from the territory of the Congo. The resolution authorized the United Nations Secretary-General to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Congolese government, to provide that government with the necessary military assistance until it felt that, through its efforts with the technical assistance of the United Nations, the national security forces were able to meet their tasks fully. Following Security Council actions, the United Nations Force in the Congo (MONUC) was established. To carry out these tasks, the Secretary-General set up a United Nations Force, which at its peak strength numbered nearly 20,000.^[1] The Force stayed in the Congo between 1960 and 1964, and was a peacekeeping force, not a military force. The blue helmets could use their arms only in self-defense. However, they eventually became actively involved in suppressing the attempted secession of Katanga.

The first troops reached Congo on 15 July, many airlifted in by the United States Air Force. This caused an immediate calming impact. The troops began to occupy the area and the withdrawal of Belgian troops was completed by September. Dag Hammarskjöld was successful when he tried to negotiate a pacific interference of the MONUC in Katanga.

Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, dissatisfied with Dag Hammarskjöld's refusal to use UN troops to subdue the insurrection in Katanga, decided to attempt an invasion of Katanga on his own and turned to the Soviet Union for help. The invasion attempt never reached Katanga but led to dissension within the Central Government, the collapse of the Central Government, and eventually to Patrice Lumumba's arrest in December. After the withdrawal of the Belgians, the troops remained until 1964, to help the government to maintain the peace and consolidate the independence of the country. In the end, Katanga remained a province.

Irish Army Involvement

The Irish Army's first large deployment to the Congo was in 1960. The 32nd Infantry Battalion was the first deployment of Irish troops overseas and they were woefully ill-equipped. The standard uniform was a heavy bullswool tunic and trousers and the service rifle was the .303 Lee-Enfield. If the equipment was considered obsolete for a north-European war, it was totally unsuitable for warfare in the central African jungle. Issues with kit were eventually solved, new lightweight uniforms were issued and the FN FAL rifle replaced the venerable Lee Enfield. The Irish Battalions had a huge area to patrol and not much transport too patrol it with. Most patrols consisted of a couple of Land Rovers or Willys CJ3As, carrying soldiers armed with rifles, Gustav M45 submachineguns and Bren Guns. One such patrol was ambushed at Niemba on 8th November 1960 by the Baluba. Nine Irish soldiers died and only two escaped. One soldier who died was awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry (the highest Irish military award) for giving his life to save his comrade. It is the only time this medal has been awarded. As a result of the ambush, the army equipped it's contingent with 8 wholly obsolete Ford armoured cars. These had been constructed in Ireland during the Second World War as a stop-gap armoured vehicle when no chance of receiving exported armour from Britain existed. Armament consisted of a single turret-mounted Vickers HMG. Despite the fact that the cars were poorly armed and armoured, and were wholly unsuitable for the terrain, they were an extra-ordinary success, often fighting against much more modern vehicles and coming out on top. Modifications included extra ammunition storage, a searchlight and a cooling fan.

The Irish contingent fought with extreme bravery and skill considering their little experience of "real" warfare, or of the terrain encountered. Congo veterans sometimes speak of the ferocious Baluba warriors - stories are told about how an Irish soldier may have fired twice or three times into an oncoming warrior without apparent effect, but would be able to scare the same man into running for his life by simply taking out his false teeth. Such is the nature of a meeting of cultures in conflict. The most famous Irish action of the operation was the Siege of Jadotville where 150 Irish troops held out against a much larger force of Katanganese. The Irish fought until their ammunition ran out, inflicting many casualties on their opponents but amazingly taking none themselves.

A total of 6000 Irish Troops served in the Congo from 1960 until 1964, taking 26 casualties in that time. The experience benefitted the army hugely, as it resulted in greater investment by the government in personal kit and eventually, armoured personnel carriers.

Canadian Army Involvement

Canada has a proud history of Peacekeeping, Canadian soldiers had been a part of every UN Peacekeeping mission from its founding to 1989. The Congo Crisis was one of the earliest and most important UN missions ever. In many ways the UN mission to the Congo would set a precedent for all subsequent UN peacekeeping missions. When violence erupted in the Congo so too did support for a United Nations mission to the Congo among the Canadian public. “On 12 July, the Globe asked “where are the UN Police?”1 in an editorial that called for the dispatch of a UN armed force.”2 Also in July of 1960 a poll was given to Canadians which asked “of all the trouble spots in the world- Russia, China, Cuba or the Congo, which do you think is most critical? After Russia the Congo was identified as the next most critical trouble spot.”3 Support for a UN mission was not only strong among the Canadian public but was also strong in Parliament. “In the House of Commons, Liberal critic Paul Martin asked the Progressive Conservative of John Diefenbaker “to inform the secretary General of the United Nations that if United Nations police forces are required and requested for the preservation of order in the new Congo state, a Canadian contingent is ready, trained and available to be moved by air transport immediately. “4 At the time Canada had set aside an infantry brigade especially for the use of the United Nations. J.W MacNaughton, the Director of Military Operations and Plans, stated that “he considered it unlikely that peacekeepers would get used in any combat capacity, so he expected the UN would ask for military advisers and not the standby battalion Canada had readily available for UN service.”5 When Dag Hammarskjold received the offer to send the Canadian Brigade to the Congo he refused stating that “If outside help was required to resolve the developing crisis, they preferred non-African states to be used as a last resort.”6 The United Nations did not wish to turn the Congo Crisis into a Cold War proxy war and so tried to pick peacekeepers from neutral countries. Hammarskjold hoped that if a military force was necessary “the force would consist of three or four fully equipped units, which he hoped to obtain from several neutral African and Asian countries and from a trans-Atlantic French-speaking country.”7 This trans-Atlantic French –speaking country would be Canada, even though as Dr. Spooner put it “Canada: [was] Just West of Neutral.”8 Canadian forces were perfectly suited for a peacekeeping mission in the Congo because they were bilingual, this allowed them to communicate with the mostly English speaking UN troops as well as the French speaking Belgian and Congolese forces. They could also communicate with the Congolese people.

All of this occurred prior to there being an official request for assistance from the Congo. The first request for assistance from the Congo requested that the United Nations send technical assistance to support the Force Publique, the armed forces of the Congo. In response ,“the secretary general suggested the dispatch of UN technical personnel to the Congo to assist in restoring order and discipline within the armed forces.”9 Canadian“National Defence assumed that the United Nations would ask for French-speaking military advisers, the army maintained a standby list of one hundred officers, including many who were bilingual and could be posted abroad on short notice.”10 Before Hammarskjold could put his plan into action, however, a second Congolese request arrived, sent directly to the secretary general from President Joseph Kasavubu and Prime Minister Joseph Lumumba, “the Congolese leaders asked for UN military forces to counter the violent Belgian intervention.”11 Again Canada offered combat troops stating that if the need arose for Canadian military intervention in the Congo Canada could also “deploy one of three French speaking battalions made ready for UN Service.”12 The offer for combat troops was again refused, though Hammarskjold officially accepted the Canadian French-speaking officers.

It was during this time that the first formal request for troops in the support of the UN mission was given to Canada, the request included Canadian signals and logistics personnel be sent to the Congo. From Canada the UN needed specifically signals personnel as well as quartermaster and maintenance personnel. “Once cabinet decided to send signallers, the army moved quickly to complete the necessary arrangements for their departure. Two units were formed: Canadian HQ, ONUC and no. 57 Signals Squadron.”13 To supply these Canada approved “the purchase of thirteen tropicalized AN/GRC-26D heavy wireless sets from the United States.”14 The Canadian Signallers were to be used to send communication from the front to the headquarters and vice-versa. They were stationed both at ONUC HQ as well as in 10 static signals stations spread throughout the country. Canada also sent a Provost Unit which attempted to promote law and order in the capital.“At any one time there were more Canadians serving at ONUC HQ than of any other nationality.”15 In addition to the Signals Squadron, Canada also sent an advanced reconnaissance party consisting of six officers from the United Nations Military Observer Group in India. “These men were instructed to determine personnel and equipment requirements, as well as the organization requirements at HQ.”16 The reconnaissance party found that “ONUC HQ personnel did not carry weapons and were able to move about freely without any trouble.” The Canadian government, however, was scared that their French-speaking peacekeepers could get mistaken for Belgian paratroops, and so “peacekeepers were given small arms training... depending on rank the troops were issued either Browning automatic pistols or C1 submachine guns, weapons the non-combatant peacekeepers carried for personal defence only.”17

It soon became clear that these fears were not unwarranted, Canadian peacekeepers were attacked by Congolese troops on several occasions. “The first incident of serious violence that occurred between Congolese and Canadians occurred at N’Djili airport, and demonstrated how vulnerable the Canadians could be. Two groups of peacekeepers were waiting to depart on reconnaissance missions, when those destined for Luluabourg were delayed on the tarmac. A patrol of about ten to twelve Congolese soldiers suddenly rushed them... the Congolese forced them facedown onto the tarmac, arms extended and then they kicked them.”18 The commanding officer was then knocked out and the remaining Canadian soldiers were herded onto a truck. After about ten minutes the Canadians were rescued by a Danish officer and Ghanain troops. The UN as well as Canada reacted in outrage to this senseless attack against Canadian troops. In turn they praised the Canadian officer for not escalating the situation and responding in due discretion. It was recognized by all parties that the Canadian soldiers were capable of firing on the Congolese troops in self-defence but they did not.

Even though Canada wasn’t in the Congo in a combat capacity their involvement came under scrutiny from the USSR. The Soviets began to attack Canadian involvement directly, “they objected to the use of Canadian peacekeepers because Canada was one of Belgium’s NATO allies.” The Soviets even went so far as to demand “the withdrawal of armed groups from Canada.”19 According to Scarnecchia, the Soviets “accused the RCAF of supplying weapons and armoured steel to Tshombe’s forces in secessionist Katanga, they believed that this RCAF support was in line with Western Interests.”20 Though these allegations were never proven in response the secretary-general of the UN transferred the RCAF contingent from performing airlift duties in support of the UN mission to a Pisa-Leopoldville airlift of food and aid. This transfer served to somewhat satisfy the Russians and any further scrutiny was mild in comparison. Instead of arguing against UN involvement in the Congo the Soviets began to provide aid to Prime Minister Lumumba in Leopoldville. This as well as the assassination of Lumumba and the death of Secretary-General Hammarskjold would lead to the UN allowing the use of force by UN troops in the Congo.”21 In 1961, UN troops under aggressive commanders pushed into Katanga, and began routing Tshombe’s armed forces. As clashes between Tshombe and UN forces grew more frequent, the UN grew more aggressive and eventually took control of key parts of the province.”22

One of the most famous Canadian peacekeepers that served in the Congo was General Jacques Dextraze. Dextraze was sent to the Congo in 1963, to serve as Chief of Staff of the UN force, effectively making him second in command of the entire mission. Dextraze was a daring leader, he made a name for himself by “undertaking a number of risky rescues, he once landed his personal helicopter to pick up four missionaries and was forced to keep the rebels at bay until escape was possible. General Dextraze went on to become the Chief of Defence Staff in Canada.”23 Canadians would play an important role in nearly every aspect of the UN mission in the Congo. From their detachment at Command HQ to the RCAF Pisa-Leopoldville Airlift on to the Signals Personnel stationed throughout the Congo, each level of Canadian involvement would play a crucial role in the mission. Though Canadian involvement came under Soviet attack the Canadian commitment to the mission did not waver and Canadian soldiers stayed in the Congo until the end of the mission in 1964. Canadian forces proved themselves admirably in tough situations when they were attacked by Congolese forces and responded with discipline and tact by not firing on their aggressors. The greatest strength which the Canadian Contingent in the Congo reached was 461, though 1,900 Canadian soldiers would serve there from 1960-64. There were no casualties except the bruises and cuts given to the Canadian Forces by Congolese troops at N’Djili Airport.

Force commanders of the ONUC

• General Carl Carlsson von Horn, Sweden, July 1960 – December 1960(transferred from UNTSO)
• Lieutenant-General Sean MacEoin, Ireland, January 1961 – March 1962
• Lieutenant-General Kebbede Guebre, Ethiopia, April 1962 – July 1963
• Major-General Christian Roy Kaldager, Norway, August 1963 – December 1963
• Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria, January 1964 – June 1964

See also

• Congo Crisis

References

1. ^ MONUC

1. Spooner, Kevin A.. Canada, the Congo Crisis, and UN Peacekeeping, 1960-64.

Vancouver, BC, CAN: UBC Press, 2009.

 2.Spooner, 31
3. Spooner, 31
4. Spooner, 32
5. Spooner, 32
 6. Spooner, 35
 7. Spooner,  Kevin, A. Canada: Just West of Neutral. Journal of Modern Africa, 2009
 8. Spooner, 34

9. Spooner, 32

10. Spooner, 34
11. Spooner, 32
12. Spooner, 64
13. Spooner, 63
14. Spooner, 75
15. Spooner, 64
 16. Spooner, 65
 17. Spooner, 65
18. Spooner, 76
19. Spooner, 83
20. Spooner, 84
21. Scarnacchia, Timothy. The Congo, Crisis, The United Nations, and Zimbabwean Nationalism: 1960-63. Journal of African Studies 4
 22.Lyman, Princeton M. Ralph Bunche's International Legacy: The Middle East, Congo, and United Nations Peacekeeping. Journal of Negro Education Vol: 73 No. 2(2004) 163
 23. CBC Archives, Dextraze in the Congo, Histori.com

External links

• MONUC from the official UN peacekeeping site

Further reading

• 'To Katanga and Back'
• The UN in the Congo : The Civilian Operations
• A. WALTER DORN AND DAVID J.H. BELL, 'Intelligence and Peacekeeping: The UN Operation in the Congo 1960-64,' International Peacekeeping (journal).