Congo Crisis
Part of the Decolonisation of Africa and the Cold War
Congo Crisis collage.jpg
Clockwise starting from top left:
  • Refugee camp outside Élisabethville
  • Peacekeepers tending to a wounded comrade
  • Armed Baluba civilians
  • Massacred civilians in Lodja
  • Belgian paratroopers duringDragon Rouge
  • Government forces fighting Simba rebels
Date5 July 1960 – 25 November 1965
Location
Republic of the Congo
ResultThe Congo established as an independent unitary state under thede factodictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko.
Belligerents
1960–63:
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo
Supported by:
  •  Soviet Union(1960)
  • United NationsONUC
1960–63:
  •  Katanga
  •  South Kasai
Supported by:
  •  Belgium

1960–62:
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoFree Republic of the Congo
Supported by:
  •  Soviet Union
1964–65:
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
  •  United States
  •  Belgium
Supported by:
  • United NationsONUC(1964)
1964–65:
  • Kwilu and Simba rebels
Supported by:
  •  Soviet Union
  •  China
  •  Cuba
Commanders and leaders
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoJoseph Kasa-Vubu
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoPatrice Lumumba Executed
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoCyrille Adoula
  • United NationsDag Hammarskjöld 
  • United NationsU Thant

  • Democratic Republic of the CongoJoseph Kasa-Vubu
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoJoseph-Désiré Mobutu
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoMoïse Tshombe(from 1964)
  • State of KatangaMoïse Tshombe
  • South KasaiAlbert Kalonji
  • BelgiumGaston Eyskens
  • BelgiumThéo Lefèvre

  • Democratic Republic of the CongoAntoine Gizenga (POW)

  • Pierre Mulele
  • Christophe Gbenye
Casualties and losses
Total killed: c. 100,000