Katanga 1961-63 - "Swedens last war"

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Early in the morning 28th August 1961 the UN units in Elisabethville under command of Col Waern (Sw) launched "Operation Rumpunch".

a) Indian Bn (Dogras, maj Singh) took PTT station and closed down telephone and radio communications.

b) Irish Bn (LtCol Mac Namee) less two Coys took Gendarme hotel. One Coy (Cdt Quinnlan) took Gendarme HQ and Minisister of Interior Munongo´s palace. One Coy guarded the airport.

c) Swedish Bn (Maj Mide) took Kilobelobe radio station and took control of inner city with Bde reserve at Parc Albert.

The operation was carried out as planned and without resistance.

Minister Munongo was placed under house-arrest but directly released by orders from UN high representative in E-ville, Conor Cruise O´Brien.

That was a misstake because Munongo started to hunt down Kasai-Baluba. Baluba population took refuge at the Swedish camp. The refugée camp grew to some 40.000 inhabitants.

During Operation "Rumpunch" 273 Belgian Officers and foreign mercenaries were arrested. 104 on the wanted list escaped.

Picture: Guarding the refugée camp.