SubSaharan Africa 489
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On February 13, 1988, rebels attacked a white South African farm with
rockets and then fled into Zimbabwe. South Africa charged that the attackers were
from Zimbabwe and demanded that the Zimbabwean government take action. Zimba-
bwe refuted the claim and refused to take action, arguing that South Africa was trying
to distract from its internal problems. South Africa then threatened Zimbabwe the
next day, stated that, if Zimbabwe refused to take action, South African armed forces
would cross into Zimbabwe and punish the rebels.
552 ZIMBABWE/571 BOTSWANA
MID#1333
Dispute Number: 1333
Date(s): August 5, 1976 to March 3, 1978
Participants: 552 Zimbabwe/571 Botswana
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: On August 12, 1976, the president of Botswana issued a statement
accusing Rhodesian forces of two border violations the previous week. The white
Rhodesian forces were hunting black Rhodesian rebels. Botswana was one of five
African countries that supported the rebels against the white minority government. On
December 18, Botswana policemen clashed with Rhodesian troops along the border,
then Rhodesian security forces conducted a raid into Botswana on February 19, 1977,
to attack a rebel unit that had recently attacked a Rhodesian outpost. On May 15, Rho-
desian security forces followed a rebel unit into Botswana and a firefight ensued. On
September 2, Rhodesian forces threw a grenade into a Botswanan policeman’s home
which caused considerable damage. The next day, planes dropped bombs and fired
machine guns on the area.
Rhodesian troops began massing at the border. On September 6, Rhodesian war-
planes and ground troops attacked the village of Pandamentenga. Smaller incidents
like these continued until February 28, 1978, when Rhodesian mistook a Botswana
army patrol for rebel forces and killed 15 Botswana soldiers near Kazungula. An inter-
nal settlement between Rhodesian leaders and moderate African nationalists ended the
Bush War in early March.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 6, 1976. End day changed from
Missing.
MID#3015
Dispute Number: 3015
Date(s): February 27, 1978
Participants: 552 Zimbabwe/571 Botswana
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)