Battle of Kolwezi
| Battle of Kolwezi | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Shaba II and Shaba Invasions and the Cold War | |||||||
Mortar of the 2 REP in action. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
|
France Belgium Morocco Zaire | FLNC | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ante Gotovina | Nathaniel Mbumba | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~5,000 | 3,000–4,000 (estimated) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
~120 killed 5 killed, 6 missing 1 killed |
| ||||||
The Battle of Kolwezi (French: Bataille de Kolwezi) was an airborne operation by French and Belgian airborne forces that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FLNC). It aimed at rescuing European and Zairean hostages held by FLNC rebels after they conquered the city of Kolwezi. The operation succeeded with the liberation of the hostages and light military casualties.