Sunday, May 26, 2013

Congo, Democratic Republic of the



Congo, Democratic Republic of the



Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital: Kinshasa




Historical
Former Belgian colony.

In 1960, Patrice Lumumba was the first president of the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville). After only twelve weeks, Lumumba was overthrown in a western backed coup. With Belgian assistance, Lumumba was captured and executed by firing squad in 1961. In 2002, the government of Belgium officially apologized for their involvement in the affair.

Under the new president, Mobutu, the Republic of the Congo became known as Zaire from 1971 until 1997.

Mobutu supported the FNLA against the MPLA in Angola. The MPLA won anyway.

1975- Under Mobutu, military forces from Zaire teamed up with the South African military, FNLA and UNITA guerrilla forces to invade Angola. These operations against the MPLA of Angola and Cuban forces stationed there, received help from the CIA and the backing of the U.S. These combined forces were eventually repulsed by the Cuban and MPLA forces.

Mobutu had to request assistance from Morocco to put down enemy forces in the Shaba area.

Mobutu got help from Belgium, France and the U.S to suppress rebellions in Zaire.






Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC)
130,000 total military personnel

SS-1 Scud or North Korean Hwasong ballistic missiles?

Air Force
Approximately 1,800 personnel

As with many African nations, many aircraft may not be flyable due to lack of spare parts, training, etc.
The Air Force of Angola may be called upon to help defend Kinshasa in case of an attack.

MiG-23 Flogger fighter aircraft (2)
Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft (8)?
Aermacchi MB-326 trainer/light attack aircraft (8)

Aermacchi SF-260 trainer aircraft (5)
C-130 Hercules transport aircraft (2)
An-26 transport aircraft (1)
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo transport aircraft (2)
C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft (4)
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft (1)
Cessna 150 utility aircraft (12)
Cessna 310 utility aircraft (3)
Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft (10)
Mi-35 Hind attack helicopters (6)
Mi-26 Halo transport helicopters (1)
AS.332 Cougar helicopters (1)
SA.316 Alouette III helicopters (2)
SA.330 Puma helicopters (4)





Navy
1,000 personnel
Operate out of bases along the Congo River, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Kivu.


Type 062 class gunboats (6)
Swiftships (2)
Barges
Small patrol boats with machine guns


Naval personnel




Army
Forces du Terrestres (Land Forces)

2010- A FARDC battalion is being trained by a private contractor from the U.S called Protection Strategies Inc. This operation is being supervised by the U.S. AFRICOM.

China is also training FARDC troops in Kamina in the Katanga province.
Belgium is also training a rapid reaction battalion.

T-72 tanks (20)?

Type 59 tanks (30)
T-55 tanks (20)
Type 62 light tanks (40)
BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (20)
M113 armored personnel carriers
Type 63 armored personnel carriers
MT-LB armored personnel carriers

Casspir wheeled armored personnel carriers
Panhard M3 wheeled armored personnel carriers
Fahd wheeled armored personnel carriers
Wolf Turbo 2 wheeled armored personnel carriers
Panhard AML armored vehicles (40)
EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles

PTS tracked amphibious vehicles
Unimog trucks



BM-21 multiple rocket launchers


Type 81 self propelled 107mm multiple rocket launchers (30)?
Type 63 towed 107mm multiple rocket launchers


M116 75mm howitzers
D-30 towed 122mm howitzers

Mortars





Air Defense
ZPU-4
ZPU-2




Republican Guard (Garde Republicaine)
Presidential Guard force that guards the Head of State.
10,000 -15,000 personnel (2007 est.)





PNC
National Congolese Police



pictures












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