Kisangani Mutinies
Encyclopedia
The Kisangani Mutinies, also known as the Stanleyville Mutinies or Mercenaries' Mutinies, were a continuation of the Congo Crisis
. The First Kisangani Mutiny was in 1966, the Second was in 1967.
in Spain, some 2,000 of Tshombe's former Katangan
gendarmes, led by mercenaries, mutinied in Kisangani
(formerly Stanleyville) in July 1966. The mutiny was unsuccessful and was crushed.
, apparently triggered by the news that Tshombe's airplane had been hijacked over the Mediterranean Sea
and forced to land in Algiers
, where he was held prisoner. Led by a Belgian settler named Jean Schramme
and involving approximately 100 former Katangan
gendarmes and about 1,000 Katangese, the mutineers held their ground against the 32,000-man Congolese National Army (Armée Nationale Congolaise; ANC) for four months until November 1967, when Schramme and his mercenaries crossed the border into Rwanda
and surrendered to the local authorities.
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
. The First Kisangani Mutiny was in 1966, the Second was in 1967.
First Mutiny
Amid rumours that the ousted prime minister Tshombe was plotting a comeback from his exileExile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Spain, some 2,000 of Tshombe's former Katangan
State of Katanga
Katanga was a breakaway state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
gendarmes, led by mercenaries, mutinied in Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
(formerly Stanleyville) in July 1966. The mutiny was unsuccessful and was crushed.
Second Mutiny
Exactly a year after the failure of the first mutiny, another broke out, again in KisanganiKisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
, apparently triggered by the news that Tshombe's airplane had been hijacked over the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and forced to land in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, where he was held prisoner. Led by a Belgian settler named Jean Schramme
Jean Schramme
Jean Schramme was a Belgian mercenary and farmer, owner of an estate of about 15 square kilometres, and boss of about 1000 indigenous workers....
and involving approximately 100 former Katangan
State of Katanga
Katanga was a breakaway state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
gendarmes and about 1,000 Katangese, the mutineers held their ground against the 32,000-man Congolese National Army (Armée Nationale Congolaise; ANC) for four months until November 1967, when Schramme and his mercenaries crossed the border into Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and surrendered to the local authorities.