An Cosantóir July/August 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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Tales,
trials and
friendships
of Irish and
Swedish UN
peacekeepers
in the Congo
by HENRIK JANSSON
O
n June 30th 1960, the Congo, previously a belgian
colony, gained its independence. Due to its rich natural
resources and human greed, the newborn country was
soon thrown into civil war, as several factions quarrelled about
who was to lead the country and how it should be divided.
Another human urge, to do good by your fellow man, drove
Dag Hammarskjöld, the Swedish Secretary General of the
UN, to react quickly and the organisation des Nations Unies
au Congo (oNUC) peacekeeping operations was established
by UN Resolution 143 on July 14th. Sweden and Ireland were
among the 29 countries that soon sent soldiers to the Congo.
Secretary General Hammarskjöld's rapid action in per-
suading the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 143,
was quickly strengthened by the adoption of two fur-
ther resolutions: 145 (July 22nd) and 146 (August 9th).
Less than a week after Dag Hammarskjöld asked the Swed-
ish government for help, Swedish peacekeepers had boots
on the ground after its UN battalion stationed in the Gaza
Strip was diverted to Léopoldville. Ireland's 32 Infantry Bat-
talion, one of two battalions formed specifically to serve
with ONUC, departed Ireland for the Congo on July 27th,
and was joined a month later by 33 Infantry Battalion.
Both nations had very little experience in military operations
abroad: this was the first full Irish unit to participate in a UN mis-
sion, and Swedish soldiers had very little experience in armed
combat. It was obvious that there would be a steep learning curve.
The Congo in 1960 was a divided country. President Joseph
Kasavubo and Prime Minister Lumumba were based in the
northwest, in the capital, Léopoldville, while Moishe Tshombe
was leading a bid for independence for Katanga province in the
southeast. On top of this, the small, diamond-rich area of South
Kasai had proclaimed independence as well. In addition, many
Protecting the Congo's children; the most important role of
Swedish and Irish soldiers serving with ONUC. Photo: Swedish
Army Museum/Photographer Göran Landelius.
