440 Chapter 4
Narrative: On November 8, 1969, Bernard Kolela led a failed assassination attempt
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Congro. The next day President
Ngouabi announced that the DRC had arrested 40 and seized enough weapons to arm
a battalion. On November 13, a military court acquitted six but sentenced the leaders
of the plot to death and prison terms of one to 20 years on the rest. Several were con-
victed in absentia. The DRC lodged a protest with the Organization of African Unity
(OAU) and closed its border with Congo.
In November DRC President Mobutu claimed that his army could take Kinshasa on
his order: “I swear to you that if we really wanted, it would only take us a couple of
hours to silence these people over there. If I decided to put on my red [paratrooper’s]
beret... two hours would suffice to occupy most of their territory and all they could
do would be to ask the [United Nations] Security Council to order a withdrawal. If
it wasn’t over in a couple of hours, I would resign.” Mobutu then warned that planes
flying over DRC territory without 48 hours’ notice might be downed and all traffic on
the Congo River would end. The DRC military subsequently closed the border.
Congo responded by putting its troops on alert and calling Mobutu the Hitler of
Africa. In August 1969, DRC Lieutenant Kikaga was sentenced to death in absentia
and promptly fled to the Congo. On March 23, 1970, Kikaga led 30 men in occupying
the radio station in Brazzaville. They used the airwaves to announce a new govern-
ment and called on the Congo and Gabon for support. However, within a few hours
President Ngouabi personally led a successful mission in recapturing the radio sta-
tion. By March 29, the DRC convicted and executed three and convicted five more in
absentia for their role in the coup attempt.
Gabonese President Albert-Bernard Bongo, Central Africa Republic President
Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Chadian President Tombalbaye, and Cameroonian President
Ahmadou Ahidjo helped end the dispute. On June 16, 1970, Mobutu and Ngouabi
signed the Manifesto of June 16, agreeing to end hostilities.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 10, 1969.
MID#2806
Dispute Number: 2806
Date(s): January 15, 1987
Participants: 490 Democratic Republic of the Congo/484 Congo
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Zairean troops crossed the border and entered the village of Ngombe when
Congolese forces responded. The border clash between Congolese militia and Zairean
soldiers killed at least three.
Coding changes: Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#4069
Dispute Number: 4069
Date(s): March 31, 1993 to April 7, 1993
Participants: 490 Democratic Republic of the Congo/484 Congo