This study is a historical analysis of the 1978 Shaba Province Invasion in Zaire that culminated in three independent rescue missions to save expatriate mine workers from being killed as hostages. The study encompasses earlier crises in the country, tracing the origins and history of the Katangan Gendarmerie from its creation in 1960 to the invasion of 1978. For the first time, this study includes the entire Western response to the invasion: the initial airborne operation by the Zairian Army; the airborne assault by the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Parachute Regiment; and the air assault landing by the Belgian Paracommando Regiment. In doing so, it addresses the abortive Zairian airborne operation that set off the massacre of expatriate mine workers and forced a European reaction to the murders. Next the thesis examines the French response to the crisis through the use of primary source materials such as the operations orders, daily journals, and after action reports. The study then addresses the Belgian response to the crisis through the Belgian Army's official publications, the Belgian news media, and personal documents of the then Regimental operations officer. Overall, the thesis uses United States Department of State message traffic to document the actions taken during the invasion. Non-combatant evacuations are a common peacetime contingency mission, often coupled to the rescue of hostages. In this study, it is apparent that the Zairian response to the invasion led to most of the deaths involved. It is equally apparent that the French and Belgian political attitudes colored their military approach to the operation. The French deployed to restore order to the province and the Belgians went to Kolwezi on a strictly humanitarian rescue. As a consequence, each developed independent plans for the mission; plans that were not coordinated until the two European forces were shooting at one another. Despite the political differences between the French and the Belgians, certain needs were basic. Among those, the first was extensive airlift support throughout all phases of the operation. Next was the requirement for effective training to deal with a rapidly developing situation. Additional medical support that could be deployed fully by air was also needed as was long-range communications support. The list continues, and in doing so, proves that such operations are challenging and worthy of serious study.

ADA 211808 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)